Quick Info
If you're craving relentless, close-quarters action, The Raid: Redemption is an absolute adrenaline rush. Set in a Jakarta apartment block overrun by criminals, the film sends a rookie SWAT team on a mission that quickly goes sideways. The story is simple, but that’s exactly the point — it’s a vehicle for some of the most intense and creative fight choreography I’ve seen, with Iko Uwais pulling off jaw-dropping martial arts that will honestly leave you wincing and cheering at the same time.
What stood out most for me was the sheer physicality and inventiveness of the action. Each fight feels raw and desperate, using every bit of the environment — broken doors, hallways, furniture — as weapons. The claustrophobic setting ratchets up the tension, making the entire movie feel like one long, pulsing heart attack (in a good way). There’s not a ton of character development, but you still end up caring about the small crew fighting to survive.
If you’re not a fan of graphic violence, this might be a lot (some of the moments are genuinely brutal), and the plot isn’t going to win any awards for originality. But for fans of action — especially martial arts and single-location thrillers — The Raid is a must-see. It’s the kind of movie you watch just to marvel at what people can physically do on screen.
