Review | Netflix movie review: Fistful of Vengeance – Wu Assassins spin-off reunites Iko Uwais, Lewis Tan for another martial arts feast

This tale of a crime-fighting gang looking for justice in Bangkok, starring The Raid’s Iko Uwais and Lewis Tan, is let down by confusing and convoluted dialogue

The action scenes, however, more than make up for it, with director Roel Reiné doing double duty as cameraman and making sure the film lands a punch or two

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Iko Uwais as Kai in a still from Fistful of Vengeance, directed by Roel Reiné. Photo: Patrick Brown/Netflix.

Published: 7:45pm, 18 Feb 2022

2.5/5 stars

In the opening moments of Fistful of Vengeance, Netflix’s new feature-film spin-off from supernatural martial arts series Wu Assassins, the crime-fighting gang is likened to the Avengers, only for Tommy (Lawrence Kao) to counter that they are closer to Charlie’s Angels than Marvel’s superheroes.

What soon becomes apparent, however, is that this 90-minute action quickie from direct-to-video veteran Roel Reiné would really love to be part of the Fast & Furious family, if only its modest budget could stretch to the fast cars and spectacular stunt work of that ostentatious franchise.

Picking up sometime after the end of the show’s first season, Fistful of Vengeance sees the team head to Thailand looking for justice, after Tommy’s sister is murdered. Kao is joined by returning stars Lewis Tan, Juju Chan Szeto and Iko Uwais, as the titular wu assassin, imbued with the power of 1,000 monks and the last in a long line of chosen protectors.

On arrival in Bangkok, Kai (Uwais), Lu Xin (Tan) and Tommy are approached by the mysterious Dr Pan (Jason Tobin), who sends them after his spiritual twin sister, Ku (Rhatha Phongam).

Along for the ride come Pearl Thusi’s Interpol agent, who has a romantic history with Lu Xin, and Tommy’s local contact, Preeya (Francesca Corney).