It's been nine years since George Miller resurrected his legendary Mad Max series, with Fury Road being a marvellous addition to his dystopian universe. One of the more popular additions during said outing was the introduction of Imperator Furiosa, with Charlize Theron's performance catapulting the character into instant cult status. Naturally it was only a matter of time before the character got her own feature film, and after several delays to production we finally got it in the form of a prequel story.
Set a couple of decades before the events of Mad Max: Fury Road, the plot delves into Furiosa's (Anya Taylor-Joy) origin, showing us how she became the badass that we were introduced to in the aforementioned film. Growing up in the Green Place of Many Mothers, our protagonist is quickly taken captive by the great biker horde, led by their deranged warlord, Dementus (Chris Hemsworth). Whilst roaming the Wasteland, the band of bikers discover the Citadel, a prosperous environment ruled by Immortan Joe (Lachy Hulme). As these two powerhouses fight for control, Furiosa finds herself stuck in the middle, looking for both revenge and a way home.
The world that George Miller has built over these last five films has been nothing short of astounding, with the cinematography in the last two being particularly majestic. What makes the Wasteland of Mad Max so enthralling, however, is the depth of characters within it, with the power hungry struggle throughout this post-apocalypse being gripping at every turn. This is no different in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, as whether it's the megalomaniac tendencies of our antagonists or the strength of Furiosa herself, the script from Miller and Nico Lathouris delivers at every turn. The way the director shoots action also enthrals, being as spontaneous and gratuitous as we're accustomed to from the series.
Anya Taylor-Joy takes on the titular role of Furiosa, having some impressive shoes to fill from Charlize Theron. For the most part the young actress, known for her roles in Split and The Queen's Gambit, does a fairly solid job of making the role her own. Showing a more delicate side to the rugged character we were introduced to in Fury Road, Taylor-Joy takes us on a journey that brings more humanity to Furiosa. This ultimately leads to a lot of pros and cons, as despite lacking the strong leadership skills Theron showcased in Fury Road, the actress delivers a gradual progression from nativity to vengeful. The dynamic between Taylor-Joy and her co-stars is also a testament to her acting ability, with the actress bouncing off the disciplined characteristics of Tom Burke's Praetorian Jack and the insanity of Chris Hemsworth's Dementus perfectly. Alyla Browne also deserves credit for her role as an even younger Furiosa, with the actress portraying tremendous fear and dread, whilst retaining a semblance of loyalty and strength.
One thing that the series has been known for over the years, is giving spectacular action sequences. This is no different with Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, with the violence being very gratuitous at times. Whether it's dismemberment by motorcycles or War Boys leaping to their death in the name of Immortan Joe, the film isn't shy about going the extra mile, with there being plenty of eye catching moments throughout. The action isn't confined to close up barbarity, however, with there being plenty of good old fashioned carnage on the post-apocalyptic highways. The most notable amongst this comes in the form of a War Rig chase scene, with the director finding new ways to deliver mass destruction. This high octane sequence also makes room for the arrival of Tom Burke's Praetorian Jack, and despite the character's involvement being rather minor in the grander scheme, Burke does an amazing job of giving us a level headed member of Immortan Joe’s crew.
The Mad Max franchise has had its fair share of maniacal antagonists over the years, with this latest entry introducing yet another tyrant to the Wasteland. The tyrant in question is Dementus, and despite not having Max Rockatansky standing in his way, this doesn't stop him from being any less dangerous. Bringing this sadistic character to life is none other than Thor actor, Chris Hemsworth, with the role being a change in direction for the Australian born star. Having played heroic roles for the majority of his career, both within and outside the superhero world, it was nice to see him sink his teeth into a villainous role. Bringing the same level of grandiosity as in previous roles, Hemsworth delivers a gritty performance that is quite possibly his greatest to date. Conveying a disciplined, yet insane demeanour, the actor does an astounding job of making the audience believe that this warlord will stop and nothing to get what he wants. He also brings a subtle level of humanity to the villain, showing that the character has experienced some form of trauma to make him the way he is.
I briefly touched on the cinematography of the last two films early, with Simon Duggan being responsible for the vivid visuals of this Wasteland. Taking over from the now retired John Seale, Duggan does an amazing job of bridging the gap between the visual style of Beyond the Thunderdome and Fury Road. Despite being closer suited to the latter, the toned down palette allows for a more dramatic tone, whilst still showcasing the vastness of the landscape. The lighting also pops throughout, as whether it's the low-key highlights during the darker sequences or the saturation of the Wasteland during the daytime, it balances the various tones to deliver an eye-catching product.
The only major drawback throughout all this, is that because it is indeed a prequel the impending climax is extremely predictable. Now don't get me wrong, this does detract too much from an otherwise sensational story, but when you know certain characters need to live and others haven't appeared prior, it's not hard to work out their fate. The journey is nonetheless fantastic, with the suspense and tension making it easy to forget these minor setbacks.
Verdict
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga is a truly magnificent extension of George Miller's post-apocalyptic universe. Giving us a dramatic origin story for our beloved heroine, the cast and crew deliver a captivating narrative that is all about loss, despair and a longing for revenge. The action and eye-catching cinematography also lives up to the legacy that has been built throughout this franchise, with the Wasteland being as beautiful as ever.
8/10
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga comes out on Blu-ray, 4K Ultra HD and DVD August 12th.
