'Furies' Review: Netflix crime-thriller promises unique blend of deep-rooted trauma, rage for revenge and jam-packed action
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: International films are finally getting the attention they deserve, and are getting praised for giving a cinematic perspective to some rooted societal problems. 'Furies' on Netflix is one of those movies that takes you deep into the issues that the world is still facing, but added in is the twist of revenge and gore that speaks out for itself. 'Furies' is a loose prequel to the 2019 movie, 'Furie', originally known as 'Hai Phuong' in Vietnamese.
The movie is directed by Vietnamese superstar Ngo Thanh Van — better known to western world as actor Veronica Ngo in 'Star Wars: The Last Jedi' and 'The Old Guard'. 'Furie' is set in the '90s focusing its plot on Saigon, now called the Ho Chi Minh City. Alongside Ngo, the movie stars some known actors of the Vietnamese industry, including Toc Tien, Rima Thanh and many more. The film had US debut on March 12, 2023 at the Southwest Film Festival.
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Three damaged women turned into deadly assassins
The movie takes you through the life of four women who were destined to meet through the struggles of poverty, trauma and sexual assault. Dong Anh Quynh's Bi runs away from her village to end up in Saigon, where she is seen selling Banh mì on the streets. The reason Bi runs away is because her mother gets killed by a man, and later in the fit of rage, she kills the man and runs away with his blood on her hands.
While on the streets of Saigon, she meets Hai Phuong, who gives her shelter where Bi meets the other two rescued women, Thanh and Hong. Phuong trains the women and explains it to them that the reason they are there is because there is a bigger purpose for them, a goal to take down a crime ring that is involved in human trafficking and drugs.
The rage of their past, the purpose of their future and the hatred for men brings them together to take revenge and bring justice to their existence and youth. Although, the story shows deeper meaning to things that one usually doesn't keep an eye out for, the plot comes out as a much blood-stained version of 'Charlie's Angels', but with great stunts and action.
'From the moment I was born, I was destined for darkness'
Firstly, the editing is exceptional and the fight sequences are out-of-the-world. The movie descents slowly into mystery and gets under your skin, but for all the good reasons. The plot is used up, but still manages to keep you seated without taking pauses. It is palpable and gory and the scenes of rape and brutality are depicted with the maximum potential with no crumbs left.
It feels like the director wanted the audience to know how it felt to be Bi and her comrades-in-arms. The use of metaphor and melancholy is the theme of the movie, where Bi compares herself to a wild daisy that has been growing in a concrete wall and watches it grow, while she becomes stronger than ever. The movie brings you face-to-face with the reality of commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor.
'Furies' is a must watch and should be on your watchlist as it is now exclusively available on Netflix.