The Raid 2 (2014)
The Raid 2: Berandal
Film details
Action · Crime · Thriller · Gareth Evans · 2h 28min
Synopsis
After fighting his way through an apartment building populated by an army of dangerous criminals and escaping with his life, SWAT team member Rama goes undercover, joining a powerful Indonesian crime syndicate to protect his family and uncover corrupt members of his own force.
Verdict
Hyperrealistic and brutal violence. Only for adults with strong stomachs.
In-depth analysis
This sequel elevates the violence of the original to a level of hyperrealism difficult to justify for family consumption. The martial arts choreographies are objectively masterful — each movement calibrated with millimeter precision — yet the director chose to display the physical consequences with visceral detail: audibly shattering bones, mutilations with bladed weapons, abundant and realistic blood. The hammer scene in the sauna and the cell murder are particularly brutal. This is not fantasy or stylized violence: it is physical cruelty depicted with extreme realism. The police infiltration script is solid, the cinematography impeccable, the performances convincing, but none of that alters the fact that this work is designed for a very specific adult audience seeking uncompromising action. The absence of sexual or ideological content does not render it suitable for families: the violence alone unequivocally disqualifies it. It is not a film for home viewing nor for minors under any circumstances.