Wave of Violence (2025) | Film Review

Michael Jai White faces a new moment in Netflix action

Wave of Violence (Hostile Takeover), new Netflix action film (watch) starring Michael Jai Whitepresents a clear proposal: to deliver choreographed fights, charisma and the physical style that marked the actor’s career. Directed by Michael Hamilton-Wright, the film fulfills this promise, but also highlights an inevitable point — White, at 57 years old, no longer moves like he used to, and the narrative construction itself tries to circumvent this factor in noticeable ways. Check out the review:

The film takes on a self-conscious, almost video game-inspired aesthetic from the start, with brief interludes to introduce each character. The premise follows Pete, a veteran killer who decides to attend Workaholics Anonymous meetings. The initiative leads his boss, Matteo Arcado (John Littlefield), to conclude that he is collaborating with enemies. From this misunderstanding, the story puts Pete in confrontation with other killers who see the bounty offered for his head as an opportunity for advancement.

This narrative choice opens up space for episodic encounters in which Pete faces opponents with different styles, always in a similar format: quick introduction, exchange of dialogue and obligatory fight. The tone is light, but Wave of Violence does not give in completely to humor. There are recurring jokes, situations with improvised accents and references to the daily lives of these professional killers, but the film does not come close to the comic structure that White explored in Black Dynamitea work that remains a milestone in his career.

Tonal indecision affects the rhythm. At several moments, the narrative pauses in undeveloped personal conflicts, especially in the relationship between Pete and Mora (Aimee Stolte), Arcado’s daughter. The novel works as a dramatic engine, but it does not sustain the time dedicated to it. The central axis, however, is Pete’s search for balance between professional and personal life, something that directly relates to the protagonist’s age and the transition his career is going through.

In terms of action, the film fulfills what the public expects from Michael Jai White, but with adjustments. The choreographies are slower, clearly designed to allow the actor to perform each movement without substitutions. The technique remains precise, but the physical difference is visible. Still, seeing him perform his own scenes without the excessive use of quick cuts avoids the type of editing that has hurt the likes of Liam Neeson in recent stages.

The secondary antagonists reinforce the episodic nature of the plot. Characters like Reaper (Aleks Paunovic), Mingjue (Alex Mallari Jr.), Thanatos (Damon Runyan) and Gabriel (Kyle Bailey) appear with minimal characteristics, often limited to a specific joke or grudge against Pete for missed commitments. Only Angel Gratis (Dawn Olivieri) appears as a direct threat, but her participation only appears in the final moments.

Wave of Violence review: is it worth watching the film on Netflix?

Wave of Violence works as a study about a protagonist who tries to reorganize his routine while facing the weight of age in a universe that demands constant performance. Michael Jai White still sustains fight sequences, but the film acknowledges — in a quiet way — that his action style is changing. The production delivers efficient moments and admits that this transition is part of the natural evolution of a veteran of the genre.