Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga movie review (2024)

The Green Place. A biker gang arrives to forage the land. And though Furiosa ably attempts to sabotage their bikes, she is captured, causing her mother (Charlee Fraser) to venture out into the desert wasteland to retrieve her. A crazed chase ensues, one of the films many expansive set pieces, that sees Furiosas mother pursuing her daughters kidnappers over sand dunes and through a sandstorm, to the steps of a hideout belonging to the messianic figure Dementus (Chris Hemsworth). This is the beginning of a decadelong feud between Furiosa and Dementus that involves revenge, grief, and the desire to return home. To do any further summarizing would, of course, not only spoil the film, but would also say that the narrative beats are necessary. Theyre not. That doesnt mean Furiosa is illogical, rather that, more than anything, Miller is telling an emotional story of how a once virtuous child became a hardened woman. That kind of arc matches well with the films operatic sensibilities as were introduced to the origins of wasteland fortresses like Gas Town and Bullet Town, and taken to the Citadel helmed by a younger, more imposing Immortan Joe (Lachy Hulme). Other characters like Immortan Joes bumbling sons Rictus (Nathan Jones) and Scrotus (Josh Helmen) return, and tips of the hat are given to fan favorites from Fury Road. Surprisingly, the older Furiosa (a striking Anya TaylorJoy) doesnt appear until an hour or so in the film.