Furies (2023)

A mysterious woman trains a trio of girls to take revenge on a criminal gang that abuses females. The three lady warriors risk everything to challenge this corrupt empire.

It starts like a female empowerment movie.

I'm thinking it'll be cliché. Girls VS the world. All with dark and abused pasts ready to take down the man, literally. A girl of the gutter's picked up by a strong lady with a will to change the world, by taking down the triad that run pretty much all guns, drugs and prostitution in the city.

They're a dangerous bundle.

Though the flare for female empowerment's definitely there it's dark though. It starts dark, and gets darker, as it turns out that their tale for betterment's really more so about vengeance, and just when this lost soul is finding a home the foundations thereof start to crumble...

The fighting choreography's not the greatest, some bits are clearly sped up, and a lot of kicks and punches lack weight or complexity, but it's good enough. They have one really good explosion - seems like a real one with a little CGI for extra effect - and unfortunately a lot of not-that-great looking CGI otherwise, including a very fake-looking bike ride.

The strong point of it all is the cast though.

They might not seem like much initially. A set of outcasts like any other, without any greater talent for emotional showcase or rage, but as it goes... it grows. It seems mediocre for so long, but then in the very final scene I'm suddenly at a loss of breath; following along intently. What a savage lady. Jacqueline (Veronica Ngo) carries the scene, and the final fight's a good one.

I get goosebumps of remembrance just writing about that part...

It's by all means not a perfect movie.

For the most part it doesn't stand out much. It may be grimy and gritty and stylistically colorful in a way like Sin City or similarly stylistic flicks, but it also often feels unnecessarily messy and overacted.

I guess they got me after all though.

Thought it'd be one of many but I think I'll remember their story after all.

In the end... it's all in the end. Maybe earlier. Maybe somewhere along the way it starts bringing me in without me noticing. The moments I consider cheesy. The guy with the overly anime-looking haircut. Elements I feel are fake and flawed. It's all part of the atmosphere after all, and in the end...

There's just no mercy. Nothing superficial. No wasted words. No reason, either. It's just the way of the world, and I wasn't expecting it. Even good movies rarely have perfect ends. Color me impressed then.

 rated 4/5: fo shizzle