Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

In cinemas now

It’s questionable whether a film as unapologetically high-octane as Mad Max: Fury Road needed a prequel, especially one that doesn’t involve Charlize Theron reprising her show-stealing performance as Imperator Furiosa. However, George Miller is a director that excels at subverting expectations and it’s therefore unsurprising to find that Furiosa, although not quite as unforgettable as its predecessor, more than justifies its existence.

Miller and his Fury Road co-writer Nico Lathouris’ screenplay embellishes not only on the titular protagonist’s backstory but also the hostilities that characterise the Wasteland, where warring tribes vie for control of a post-apocalyptic landscape. One of those clans is led by Chris Hemsworth’s Dementus, a character who, whether by accident or design, manages to steal Furiosa’s thunder by delivering an adversary that is a lot of fun to watch. Hemsworth has long been pigeonholed by his association with the Marvel Cinematic Universe but here provides a reminder of the talents that made him a standout in Bad Times at the El Royale and The Cabin in the Woods.

As for Furiosa, Anya Taylor-Joy does a solid job of filling Theron’s boots, albeit in a role that isn’t necessarily an ideal vehicle for her undoubted gifts. Alyla Browne, on the other hand, is mightily impressive as the fledgling iteration of the character, turning in a performance that belies her status as a child actor. Together, they combine to tell a more emotionally hefty story than Fury Road, one that affords itself more time to breathe (although its runtime proves to be more than a tad indulgent). 

With other Fury Road alumnus (including costume designer Jenny Beavan and makeup designer Lesley Vanderwalt), the uniquely feral worldview of the Mad Max franchise is preserved throughout Furiosa, ultimately delivering a summer blockbuster that is worth investing in.