Franchises tend to run on too long, tire audiences, and the lore can dissipate throughout each iteration. George Miller’s Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, is one of the most highly anticipated films of the year and the fifth film in a long-running franchise. Premiering at the Cannes Film Festival on May 15th, the Anya-Taylor Joy and Chris Hemsworth-led action epic runs two and a half hours and is sure to do anything except disappoint. Furiosa has eluded the curse and tiredness of a franchise, becoming the closest you can get to an amusement park ride in theaters. Do not let the runtime scare you, you’ll leave begging for more and wonder how the time flew by so fast.

Furiosa is the prequel to the acclaimed Mad Max: Fury Road that follows War Rig driver Imperator Furiosa, then played by Charlize Theron, through her journey to free the breeding women in the Citadel to her home, a place of abundance, as Max is along for the ride. Dune: Part Two actress Anya-Taylor Joy takes over the titular role of Furiosa to display how Furiosa became one of the most alluring characters in The Wasteland. Nearly every moment of Furiosa is filled with action, chaos, and the road war sequences that have kept audiences coming back for more for decades. 

ANYA-TAYLOR JOY AS FURIOSA | COURTESY OF WARNER BROTHERS

The film begins with a young Furiosa kidnapped from her home in the Green Place of Many Mothers by bikers who drag her to the grimy warlord Dementus, played by Marvel alum Chris Hemsworth. From there the film follows Furiosa’s journey in establishing herself in the Citadel while waiting for the perfect moment to strike on Dementus and find her way home. Miller’s Wasteland is a breeding ground for ruthless and disgusting characters where the line between heroes and villains can blur. Dementus and Furiosa’s relationship is at the film’s core, as the biker hoard leader commits an egregious crime that leaves Furiosa helpless and grief-stricken, solidifying Dementus as her mortal enemy. Forced into a cage and lugged around like a piece of jewelry to Dementus, she is soon sold to the Citadel to become a breeder so Dementus’ power can grow in The Wasteland. As Furiosa is forced to go to great lengths to survive and escape the lingering eyes and touches of brutes, she lives in secret among the men at the Citadel until she is thrown an opportunity to make herself invaluable as a War Rig driver. As years pass, her drive to reap vengeance on Dementus for what he has done becomes a reality as she inches near her target. As usual, road war, killing, debauchery, and endless fun ensue in this origin story.

Having minimal dialogue, Anya-Taylor Joy takes the Mad Max franchise to another level as her talent speaks for itself and carries the film with such grit and gravitas. Despite being quite petite, Joy portrays a strong, formidable character whose actions speak louder than words. The added element of humanity in Furiosa’s story makes it much more powerful to witness what she does and where she goes. Miller’s respect for Furiosa is unmistakable as his direction takes Joy from a flower petal to an impervious Oak tree that is Furiosa in all her glory. Unwavering, the War Rig driver is a hero of epic proportions who is effortless to root for as the most daunting opponent in The Wasteland. What sets Furiosa apart from Max, who we see in Fury Road, is that there are people she has bonded with, loved, and lost throughout the film.  Our protagonist may be a woman in a man’s world, however, her gender does not lead to more inquiries or roadblocks, her talent leads her to become one of the most respected figures in the Citadel. There is no questioning Furiosa, only hoping you are lucky enough to stand beside her instead of in her path. Miller has shot The Menu actress in a way where she is the most imposing force, larger than life and just as vast as The Wasteland itself.

CHRIS HEMSWORTH AS DEMENTUS | COURTESY OF WARNER BROTHERS

The most surprising performance is that of Chris Hemsworth (with a cartoonishly perfectly imperfect prosthetic nose) as the villain Dementus who is so stupid he somehow gets away with more power and weapons than he deserves. Dementus is gross, and seedy, and survives on a cruel balance of fear and hatred from his biker hoard. It is glaringly apparent that Hemsworth had so much fun playing this role, his charisma oozes from the screen while still maintaining the vileness of his character. The Thor star has shown he is capable of spot-on comedic timing and complicated action sequences, but in the barren and brutal desert, Hemsworth has found his best role yet. Audiences are sure to have this be a fan-favorite performance of this year. 

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga has the same chaotic desert, costumes, ‘towns,’ and clusters of people that audiences rave about from the 2015 film. The world of The Wasteland has such clear cinematic language that Miller has stuck to, allowing the world to exist almost as a blank canvas where stories can endlessly appear. Engines whir, sparks fly, and sandstorms rage on, all within a world nearly devoid of life, water, and civility. Fury Road and Furiosa are both great examples of how filmmakers can use CGI and new-age special effects to enhance an already-established world and create even more niche stylized versions of the same world. No matter how you slice it, Furiosa is an action movie first, a revenge film second, and an origin story third. 

JOY AS FURIOSA | COURTESY OF WARNER BROTHERS

Without the stellar talent of the crew that creates The Wasteland, Furiosa would not be able to sustain itself with the lack of dialogue and almost pure action sequences. This film relies so heavily on whether the stunts, costume, set and sound design can come together in perfect sync, and once again Miller and his crew hit it out of the park. Costume Designer Jenny Beavan returns to her Oscar-winning franchise and continues to deliver with her incredible costumes that show each person is always ready for battle. Trashy, yet incredibly complex and symbolic, the costumes seem like scraps however they have their language that tells a story about each character. Beavan’s work is always a highlight in the Mad Max franchise and her costumes are worth a viewing alone.

Furiosa is fast-paced, funny, and superbly satisfying; there has never been a coming-of-age story quite like this one. Hemsworth is at his best and Joy shows audiences all over again why she is one of the most in-demand stars in Hollywood today. Miller’s film is some of the most fun audiences will have this summer indoors. 

Score: 4.5 out of 5

This was an absolute blast of a film to watch. I cannot believe how Miller was able to navigate a two-and-a-half-hour movie of all action and somehow it did not lag once. I was hanging on to every moment, simply entertained with the world and motivated by my love of Furiosa and hatred of Dementus. Furiosa belongs in the Mad Max world, and it is so wonderful to see a woman as tough as her lead an action film filled with men. Miller has my respect for not directing Joy as a woman, but more as a person with unmatched will and talent. Furiosa and Mad Max: Fury Road is a perfect double feature for summers to come.