Netflix fans rave over gangster film with 'greatest fight scenes ever' and a whopping 92% Rotten Tomatoes score - hailing it as 'no-holds-barred bloodbath'

Daily Mail​

11-05-2025

Netflix fans have been raving over a gangster film with the 'greatest fight scenes ever' and a whopping 92 per cent Rotten Tomatoes scare, hailing it as a 'no-holds-barred bloodbath'.
The Night Comes For Us, made and released by the streamer in 2018, follows a gangster named Ito, whose job as a crime enforcer is to use violence to ensure the syndicate's rules are followed and its business is protected.
But on one occasion, he takes pity on a young survivor of a massacre his gang conducts, sparing her - and soon finds himself and the girl (Asha Kenyeri Bermudez) pursued for his disloyalty.
The screenplay for the Indonesian-language film, written and directed by Timo Tjahjanto, was originally adapted into a graphic novel before becoming a fully-fledged movie.
It stars Indonesian actors Joe Taslim and Iko Uwais respectively as the hero and a gangster who hunts him down, with the latter known in Hollywood for co-starring with Mark Wahlberg in 2018 espionage action film Mile 22.
And viewers have gone mad for the movie, which has previously been heavily praised by the co-creator of Marvel's Deadpool character.
The screenplay for the Indonesian-language film, written and directed by Timo Tjahjanto, was originally adapted into a graphic novel before becoming a fully-fledged movie
A review from Film Pulse said: 'It's a no-holds-barred bloodbath that hits the ground running and barely lets you catch your breath before throwing you into the next sequence of out-of-control violence and insanity. I loved it.'
A Variety reviewer added: 'Action fans could hardly wish for anything more than what's served up in The Night Comes For Us, a Jakarta-set Triad crime epic boasting some of the most inventive, gory and dazzlingly choreographed screen violence in recent memory.'
They even went as far to as to say 'a sequel, prequel or even franchise would not surprise from here'.
Another critic, for Medium Popcorn, did note the possibly excessive levels of gore in this 'very dark and depressing store': 'This is incredibly violent to the point of disturbing.'
But they added: 'Nonetheless, the fight scenes are some of the best I've ever seen.'
A different reviewer, meanwhile, described the movie as 'a dynamite two hours' for InSession Film: 'For those of us missing the action films of old, it's a breath of fresh air.'
Cultured Vultures ' overall verdict was similarly positive: 'An utterly thrilling ride from the first second to the last, The Night Comes For Us is one of the best action movies of recent years.'
The engaging plot is full of twists and turns - Arian, the man sent to hunt down Ito after his betrayal, is his former best friend, from an old gang they were part of together.
The engaging plot is full of twists and turns - Arian, the man sent to hunt down Ito (pictured) after his betrayal, is his former best friend, from an old gang they were part of together
Arian (left) is enticed by the proposal to kill Ito (right), who is one of just six elite enforcers for the South East Asian Triad, a transnational organised crime syndicate, known as the Six Seas
The Six Seas gangster who enlists Arian to kill Ito promises he can take the place of his former best friend in the top-level, elite enforcer squad - an appealing offer, which raises the stakes massively
Arian is enticed by the proposal to kill Ito, who is one of just six elite enforcers for the South East Asian Triad, a transnational organised crime syndicate, known as the Six Seas.
The Six Seas gangster who enlists Arian to kill Ito promises he can take the place of his former best friend in the top-level, elite enforcer squad - an appealing offer, which raises the stakes massively.
Audience members were as impressed with the film as the critics, taking to Rotten Tomatoes to gush about it: 'As a die-hard action fan, I went into this movie with high expectations - and it still managed to blow me away.
'The action sequences are intense, brutal and beautifully choreographed. It's a full-on adrenaline rush from start to finish. This one's a must-watch for any action junkie.'
Another said: 'I still come back and watch this film from time to time. I love the fight choreography.
'Even after watching it a few [times], I still cringe on a few moments when I see blades go in places they shouldn't.'
Someone else felt Tinseltown had a lot it could take from the slick production: 'Quick, gruesome, stylish, which personifies Indonesian movies.
'Iko Uwais and Joe Taslim were awesome as usual and Hollywood should learn from them.'
Audience members were as impressed with the film as the critics, taking to Rotten Tomatoes (pictured) to gush about it
Another reviewer was just as enthusiastic: 'Absolutely fantastic movie. Some of the best action directing and some of the best action choreography I've ever seen.
'The relationship between Iko and Arian is incredibly tragic and compelling. Exceeded my expectations in every way.'
As many avid viewers picked up on, the fight scenes are incredibly staged - choreographed by main actor Iko, who plays Arian and is known for his skills at pencak silat, an Indonesian martial art.
The star first rose to fame in 2011 Indonesian action thriller The Raid, as a rookie police officer part of a squad deployed to raid a drug lord's apartment building.
But the squadron - whose sergeant and leader is played by Iko's Night Comes For Us co-star Joe - soon finds themselves trapped in the apartment block by the criminals they had come to apprehend.
Iko returned for Raid 2 in 2014, directed by Welshman Gareth Evans, with Iko having co-led the fight choreography for both films.
The sequel saw the officer go undercover to expose corrupt police officials consorting with the biggest crime families of Indonesian capital Jakarta.
It also saw Iko collaborate with Indonesian actress Julie Estelle, who plays an assassin in the film - and also went on to star in The Night Comes For Us, as the Operator, part of those hunting down errant gangster Ito.
Joe, Iko's co-star in The Night Comes For Us, who plays Ito in the film, said of the movie's fight choreography: 'All the credits for choreography, I think, goes to Iko Uwais and his team'
He continued: 'They design all the fights, the structures. He would jump in to give his ideas to shape the fights, to freshen up the tone of the movie'
Joe, Iko's co-star in The Night Comes For Us, who plays Ito in the film, told review and discussion site Film School Rejects about the movie's fight choreography: 'All the credits for choreography, I think, goes to Iko Uwais and his team.
'They design all the fights, the structures. He would jump in to give his ideas to shape the fights, to freshen up the tone of the movie.'
He also explained how the movie was supposed to have been made in 2014 but 'something happened' and it 'slept for a couple of years' until Netflix revived the plans.
The idea for the film was first pitched at the Sundance Festival in 2014, which saw the North American rights bought by an offshoot of disgraced director Harvey Weinstein's production company.
The Weinstein Company imploded after the mogul was found guilty of rape and sexual assault in 2023 after decades of allegations of sexual harassment against him - so it sold the rights to Netflix.
Joe, speaking in 2018, when the film was finally released, continued: 'So, we trained actually three, four years ago for the movie.
'We refreshed the training but we changed a little bit of the choreography.'
Director Timo teased last year the possibility of a sequel, when asked on X.
A Variety reviewer added: 'Action fans could hardly wish for anything more than what's served up in The Night Comes For Us'
They even went as far to as to say 'a sequel, prequel or even franchise would not surprise from here'
A different reviewer, meanwhile, described the movie as 'a dynamite two hours' for InSession Film: 'For those of us missing the action films of old, it's a breath of fresh air'
He said the follow-up will come 'when I get enough studio flicks under my belt so that I can have my carte blanche project at Netflix'.
There has also been some preliminary talk of a sequel focussing on Julie's mysterious character the Operator, with director Timo having posted a teaser film poster to X in early 2020.
Of the sequel, with the working title Night of the Operator, he said in the post caption: 'Here's to hoping. Let Netflix know about it.'
Robert Liefeld, the American comic book co-creator of Marvel characters Deadpool and Cable, has previously showered praise on The Night Comes For Us.
The superhero Deadpool he co-created with writer Fabian Nicieza in 1990 has been the centre of three film adaptations released from 2016 to 2024, with the character played by Ryan Reynolds.
But Robert posted on X in 2018, when The Night Comes For Us came out: 'Give Timo Tjahjanto all the money for Deadpool 3!!!! Holee mother of God, I have seen the future of action films and it is TIMO TJAHJANTO!!'
He commented on his other co-created superhero character Cable, in light of the Indonesian gangster film, in a later post: 'The Indonesian cinema is providing so much influence on action films worldwide.
'Give these filmmakers big comic book IPs to play with. Heck, even a standalone Cable film under the helm of [Timo] would break the mold.'
Director Timo teased last year (pictured) the possibility of a sequel, when asked on X
Robert Liefeld, the American comic book co-creator of Marvel characters Deadpool and Cable, has previously showered praise (pictured) on The Night Comes For Us
As to what Timo is really working on, he is currently in post-production for Nobody 2, which he directed, the sequel to 2021 film Nobody.
Set for release this August, it stars American actor Bob Odenkirk as a suburban dad who is pulled back into his past life as an assassin.
The Indonesian director will also head up the upcoming sequel to The Beekeeper, an action film from last year starring Jason Statham, which was also about a retired assassin-turned-beekeeper.
When his kindly landlady takes her own life after falling to a phishing scam which sees her lose her life savings, he uses skills from his past life to seek revenge.