The Raid (2011)

[Sam@Cult Labs]

“THE MOST EXCITING ACTION MOVIE OF THE YEAR.” (FIVE STARS) – EMPIRE.

Following their hugely impressive collaboration on the universally acclaimed martial arts extravaganza “Merantau Warrior”, Welsh-born writer-director Gareth Evans and Indonesian martial arts sensation Iko Uwais have reunited and increased the energy even more (if you can believe it) for “the most incredible action and fighting movie in decades” (IGN), the award winning action-thriller The Raid.

Already being hailed by Aint It Cool News as “one of the greatest action movies ever made”, as “spectacular… incredible… exhilarating… amazing” by Variety and as “a non-stop action bonanza” by Twitch Film, The Raid was the winner of the Midnight Madness People’s Choice Award at the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival in 2011 and the winner of both the coveted Audience Award for Best Film and the Dublin Film Critics Award for Best Film at the Dublin International Film Festival in February this year, marking the first time in history both awards have gone to the same film.

Deep in the heart of one of Jakarta’s most deprived slums stands an impenetrable high-rise apartment block. To most it is 30 floors of Hell to be avoided at all cost but for many of the city’s most dangerous killers and gangsters, including the area’s most notorious crime lord, it is a fortress-like safe house protecting them from the law. Even for the bravest and most experienced police officers it is considered a no-go area.

In a desperate bid to flush these violent criminals and their leader from their haven once and for all, an elite SWAT team is tasked with infiltrating the building and raiding the apartments floor by floor, taking out anyone who stands in their way. Cloaked under the cover of pre-dawn darkness, the SWAT members make their move and enter the block not realizing that this is the easier part of the mission. Once inside, it soon becomes terrifyingly apparent that the real problem at hand is surviving long enough to be able to get out again.

Featuring an electrifying kick-ass score by Linkin Park vocalist, keyboardist and rhythm guitarist Mike Shinoda, The Raid is a “hard-driving, butt-kicking, pulse-pounding, bone-crunching, skull-smashing, blood-curdling” (The Hollywood Reporter) action-thriller that reaffirms Gareth Evans’ reputation as a director to watch and further confirms Iko Uwais’ status as both an outstanding fight choreographer and as one of world’s most impressive new action movie stars.

The Raid (cert. tbc) is released by Momentum Pictures and will open at selected UK cinemas: 18.05.2012

VISIT DIGITAL SPY FOR AN EXCLUSIVE FIRST LOOK AT THE UK TRAILER

CHECK OUT THE DIGITAL SPY REVIEW

[wongfeihung62]

I hope this comes to a cinema near me, I so want to see this on the big screen.

[Sam@Cult Labs]

I saw a preview a few weeks ago on the big screen with a booming sound system. I took the top of my head off!

[Splatterdragon73]

Brilliant artwork for the film btw.

[Sam@Cult Labs]

I was talking about this the other. This is a proper movie poster that's evocative and inspires curiosity. Remember when a horror film about a haunted house would have a really scary looking house as the poster instead of the most beautiful and violently harassed looking girl in a state of bloodied undress?

It's kind of like that. I want to go into the apartment block with the guy, it's an invitation to chaos rather than a photoshop edit job with a star face and a logo.

[Splatterdragon73]

Originally Posted by Sam@Cult Labs

This is a proper movie poster that's evocative and inspires curiosity. I want to go into the apartment block with the guy, it's an invitation to chaos rather than a photoshop edit job with a star face and a logo.

You said it and there's no doubt the poster in question is a wonderfully eye-catching sight to behold. The way all good movie artwork should be and a superb design for what looks like a superb film.

[Sam@Cult Labs]

Gareth Edwards: Director's Statement - The Raid Official UK Hubsite - Cult Laboratories

[Sam@Cult Labs]

The new UK The Raid trailer...


The Raid Trailer - Cult Laboratories

[StarrGust]

I finally watched this movie after all the positive reviews. I was not disappointed. This is a pure action movie. If you combined DIE HARD with very intense and brutal martial arts, this would be the result. This movie is so bad-ass, you will grow a third testicle after watching it.

[Susan Foreman]

Originally Posted by StarrGust

I finally watched this movie after all the positive reviews. I was not disappointed. This is a pure action movie. If you combined DIE HARD with very intense and brutal martial arts, this would be the result. This movie is so bad-ass, you will grow a third testicle after watching it.

I'd better avoid it like the plague then!