Screenwriter Trent Haaga (Cheap Thrills, Deadgirl) teams up with director Jonas Govaerts (Cub) to put the pedal to the metal in their gonzo action thriller H4Z4RD. A simple day in the life of a driver and his beloved car quickly spirals out of control, taking viewers on an entertaining and violent thrill ride through the streets of Antwerp. H4Z4RD massively delivers on high-octane thrills, laughs, and more than a few shocking moments.
Driver Noah Hazard (European DJ Dimitri ‘Vegas’ Thivaios) takes immaculate care of his prized Lexus, dipped in gold and adorned with a H4Z4RD vanity plate. Noah keeps it pristine; he enforces strict passenger rules to keep it clean. As he drops off girlfriend Lea Lea (Jennifer Heylen) and young daughter Zita (Mila Rooms), with promises to pick up Zita from school by 3:30, Noah sets off to fulfill a favor for his recently released-from-jail cousin Carlos (Jeroen Perceval). What should be a simple job turns into a calamity of errors that leaves Noah racing against the clock and contending with everything from hoodlums, ruthless drug dealers, man-eating wolves, and more.
Govaert infuses this anything-goes thriller with slick style. The filmmaker finds creative ways to frame the action almost entirely from within Noah’s beloved Lexus. Sometimes, it provides a limited scope of vision that heightens the tension. In moments, Govaert finds visually stunning ways to widen the scale. There’s a kinetic energy to it all that keeps the pulse-pounding hijinks going at a breezy clip, perfectly encapsulating that ticking time clock feel.
Anchoring the stylish thriller is a pair of oddball characters. Thivaios makes for an effective lead as the put-upon getaway driver trying to maintain his sense of controlled calm despite everything falling apart around him. It’s balanced by Perceval’s comedic performance as the family screw up. Carlos isn’t the brightest bulb and brings a bulk of the film’s laughs, whether through his obliviousness about Hitler’s mustache or his beaming pride over his terrible rap lyrics. That oafish quality prevents Carlos from wading into outright unlikable territory, even when he’s to blame for the inciting event that puts them all in harm’s way. Noah and Carlos make for an unlikely pair bonded by the relentless insanity.
Haaga’s script throws everything at the duo. Intense chases through pedestrian corridors, horny security guards with bizarre sexual fetishes, grotesque dead bodies, and beyond keep the propulsive energy going. This endless barrage of wacky shenanigans entertains and distracts from the film’s not-so-effective main antagonist. Mainly relegated to the background until the climactic confrontation, H4Z4RD doesn’t quite succeed in making this character as threatening. At least not when compared to the violent, surprising, and occasionally bloody obstacles thrown in Noah’s path along the way. Because H4Z4RD is so infectiously dynamic, it’s easy to forgive that minor quibble. Govaert’s innovation helps it the climax, both in saturated hues and inventive set pieces.
H4Z4RD makes for a wildly fun romp full of personality. It’s darkly funny, violent, and full of unexpected detours. Some of those sharp left turns leave you cringing, while others leave you in stitches. There’s something dementedly twisted about how Noah’s intentions for a quick driving job spiral in such extreme ways that put everything he holds most dear in peril. Govaerts packs an insane amount of style into the tiny confines of a slick Lexus, creating the perfect vehicle for a killer genre-bender.
H4Z4RD made its North American premiere at Fantastic Fest; release date TBD.
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