Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga: Movie Review

Cast: Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Hemsworth, Tom Burke
Director: George Miller

It's back to the Wastelands for George Miller's latest Mad Max outing, a prequel to 2015's Mad Max: Fury Road that is all about spectacle and less about depth.

Centring on an origin story for Taylor-Joy's Furiosa may seem like a good idea, but in truth, as ever with prequels, placing the character in danger proves to be dramatically counter-productive due to the fact Furiosa forms a large part of Fury Road.

However, Miller's more concerned with outrageous action sequences, endless shots of revving motorbikes and Chris Hemsworth's theatrical villain Dementus than anything else. When Furiosa's mother is killed by Dementus, she swears revenge and sets off on a journey to get it - the plot isn't exactly a strong one, with Miller more concerned with expanding the Wasteland world he already has in play, rather than bringing major new elements to the fore.

Consequently, what plays out is perfectly fine and impressive, but ultimately feels shallow and less focused than Mad Max: Fury Road's pomp and spectacle did. 

Divided into five chapters and spanning years rather than Fury Road's few days, there are times when Furiosa feels less sharp than it could - or should - be, despite Taylor-Joy's steely-eyed focus throughout. An attempt to inject a Mad Max-esque character in Tom Burke's fellow convoy driver seems to offer promise, before sadly dwindling into the background.

Yet that all plays to what Miller wants to achieve with Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga - visuals and action.

As the red sands of the outback swirls viciously on screen, and the soundtrack ramps up its aural assault, Miller puts into play various chase sequences. From a bastardised Ben Hur chariot-riding Hemsworth to swathes of bikes and whited-out War Boys, there's no easing off on the visual overload.

And whilst there's no knocking the technical expertise needed to helm the onslaught, there is an overriding feeling that perhaps Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga has little else to offer, a kind of dramatic wasteland populated solely by intense bursts of action.

There's not quite enough focus on Furiosa herself and despite Taylor-Joy's efforts, she feels secondary to the onscreen action - it's disappointing in ways, but perhaps speaks to the problems faced by the Mad Max franchise itself.

The more the enigma is poked and explored, the less enigmatic and interesting it becomes. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga satisfies in parts, but is wanting in others.