Merantau
Directed by:
Gareth EvansScreenplay:
Gareth EvansCinematography:
Matt FlanneryCast:
Iko Uwais, Sisca Jessica, Christine Hakim, Mads Koudal, Yusuf Aulia, Alex Abbad, Yayan Ruhian, Laurent Buson, Doni Alamsyah, Ratna GalihVOD (1)
Plots(1)
Yuda (Iko Uwais) is a skilled practitioner of Silat - a very deadly Indonesian martial art. It's now time for him to make the time-honoured pilgrimage from his farming village to the bustling city of Jakarta a journey known as Merantau. A chance encounter in the city leads Yuda to save Astri and her younger brother from a human trafficking ring. The leader of the gang now seeks bloody retribution. With the gang chasing their every step and with escape seemingly beyond their grasp, Yuda has no choice but to face his attackers in an adrenaline charged, jaw-dropping finale. (Madman Entertainment)
(more)Reviews (2)
Gareth Evans's filmography should ideally be seen chronologically, because that's the way to appreciate his development and progress and the work he has produced. Merantau Warrior is understandably weak in terms of plot, but the perfectly clear and traditionally uncompromising action passages are a sure sign that the potential is enormous. Unlike The Raid, it lacks budget and the A-list profile of an action director. It has its flaws, of course, but on the other hand the raw feeling of Jakarta's gritty outskirts and sometimes very decent fights drives it forward. For a directorial debut, a great, bold and in some aspects a (sub)genre-defining achievement.
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I simply enjoy Iko Uwais. He's small, but he's great in action scenes and in my opinion, he's one of the biggest action stars of our time, at least as far as martial arts are concerned. I hope he gets a lot more exposure than just in home-grown, Indonesian work because he deserves more films. Merantau Warrior has a simple story, but the slower pace makes it a specific film.
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