I think this might just be one of those high-concept movies that works better as an idea than as an actual film. I've been following Ilya Naishullers work as the frontman of Biting Elbows for quite some time now and I was really impressed with those first person shooter style music videos he made with GoPro cameras for two songs of the band. I had my reservations when I first heard that he will attempt to turn it into a movie and in retrospect I think I was right. These POV movies never really work out as feature length movies and this one is no exception. It just gets frustrating after a certain time that the whole thing resembles more a video game than a movie. It lacks the interactivity of the former and the intimacy of the later. We do indeed have the POV of Henry but we can not identify with him because there is no character development or conflict to this character at all. It is just cold and alienating. It also does not help that the movie uses violence as in a rather nihilistic and senseless way. All that is left are nice camera tricks and some genuinely amazing stunt work. But those two things can not sustain a complete movie. This is a typical case of style over substance. Nice to look at but ultimately empty.
Review of Hardcore Henry
