There's a new action movie that's getting a lot of attention on the festival circuit. It's called The Raid, and it's something of a cross-cultural mutt.
Made by Welshman Gareth Evans and starring Indonesian Pencak Silat master Iko Uwais, the martial arts action of The Raid centers on an elite SWAT team ordered to raid a derelict Indonesian apartment building that's home to Jakarta's most notorious crime boss. Let the fists of fury fly.
The Raid premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, where it garnered critical acclaim and won the Moonlight Madness Award, beating out You're Next by hot horror wunderkind Adam Wingard. Not satisfied with that triumph, Evans' marauding movie is now planning an attack on U.S. soil.
For its first foray into American territory, The Raid has chosen as its target the Sundance Film Festival, where it will play out of competition as part of the Spotlight program. Sony has already picked up the flick's North American distribution rights and will open it in the U.S. on March 23.
Of course, since The Raid is an attention-getting foreign film in a language that's not English, there's a plan to shoot a U.S. remake with a different director and cast. Were I a cynical man, I'd predict a travesty to result.
But until that happens, you still have a chance to check out The Raid in its unadulterated stylish ass-kicking Indonesian glory — the way the god of your choice meant it to be seen. Here's a little taste to put you in the mood.
There's a new action movie that's getting a lot of attention on the festival circuit. It's called The Raid, and it's something of a cross-cultural mutt.
