Latest news with #Havoc
The Guardian
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Havoc by Rebecca Wait review – a Saint Trinian's tragicomedy
Even if it wasn't perched on a cliff on the south coast, the position of St Anne's, Eastbourne – the decaying girls' school that is the setting for Rebecca Wait's gleefully macabre new novel, Havoc – might reasonably be described as precarious. Deeply eccentric, staffed by the barely employable, and permanently teetering on the brink of bankruptcy, St Anne's hangs on, against all the odds. And then, in 1984, Ida Campbell turns up on the doorstep, in possession of a full scholarship and rather a lot of baggage. Sixteen years old and already an outcast, Ida is in flight from her hapless mother, her foul-tempered sister, the small community in the Western Isles to which they have been transplanted, and the nameless scandal that has ruined their lives. St Anne's is to be Ida's salvation, but it soon dawns on her that the school might not be quite the refuge she had hoped for. The school's buildings were constructed by a Victorian lunatic. Its principal, Miss Christie, is a dusty combination of cold war paranoiac and Edwardian governess, insisting both on regular drills in preparation for nuclear attack and the importance of girls wearing their hair up. The rest of the staff, from lugubrious bluestocking teacher Vera Clarke (Classics) to 'Loopy Linda' the English mistress, are antique, creepy, despairing or all three. The exception – and one of our narrative guides through the mayhem – is geography teacher Eleanor Alston, clinging to hope and sanity as she approaches 40 in the aftermath of a failed love affair. Into this stagnant pool of scholarship is dropped the replacement for the late Miss Hamilton (history, ancient), the meek but regrettably presentable Matthew Langfield, an improbable ex-Westminster schoolmaster and St Anne's first and only male teacher, and ripples ensue. Ida's fellow students, having largely been deposited by parents indifferent to the school's underwhelming reputation and keen only not to be bothered with details, are a restless bunch, prone to smooches, cliques, gossip (Cindy Riley, in the works shed, with the groundsman?) and outbreaks of insubordination. They have their queen bee, Diane Fulbrook, the dazzling head girl with ambitions to be a police officer; and their bad fairy, Louise Adler (almost certainly some relation to Irene, Sherlock Holmes's rival). Louise is the school's only Jewish pupil and spoken of in whispers; she has pushed one girl out of a window and set another on fire at the Tea Cosy cafe, and Ida has barely learned of her existence when she is told that they will be roommates. Then Diane is taken ill with a progressive neurological disorder that defies medical investigation. When, one by one, her fellow students develop similar symptoms, and diagnoses from demonic possession and Soviet poisonings to mass hysteria begin to circulate, inevitably suspicion falls on the newest arrivals. In Havoc, Waits mines the rich seam of girls' school fiction to delirious and rewarding effect. There are welcome echoes of St Trinian's – the shade of Alastair Sim hovers over the staffroom, comforting and anarchic at once – and there is abundant Ealing comedy in the madcap chases through school corridors and machinations in the lighting gallery during the school play. Yet beneath the comedy lies a distinctly unsettling undertone: the girls experience a convincingly visceral terror that edges towards Shirley Jackson territory and gives their hysteria an extra dimension. This, along with a genuine unexpectedness in the characterisation and a lot of very funny dialogue, loosens things up and brings real originality to the game. Combined with excellent pacing, a plot so deliciously thick you could stand a spoon up in it, and the boldness required to splice a darker thread into the narrative, it all adds up to a thoroughly satisfying contribution to a happily capacious genre. Havoc by Rebecca Wait is published by Riverrun (£16.99). To order a copy for £15.29 go to Delivery charges may apply
The Guardian
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Havoc by Rebecca Wait review – a Saint Trinian's tragicomedy
Even if it wasn't perched on a cliff on the south coast, the position of St Anne's, Eastbourne – the decaying girls' school that is the setting for Rebecca Wait's gleefully macabre new novel, Havoc – might reasonably be described as precarious. Deeply eccentric, staffed by the barely employable, and permanently teetering on the brink of bankruptcy, St Anne's hangs on, against all the odds. And then, in 1984, Ida Campbell turns up on the doorstep, in possession of a full scholarship and rather a lot of baggage. Sixteen years old and already an outcast, Ida is in flight from her hapless mother, her foul-tempered sister, the small community in the Western Isles to which they have been transplanted, and the nameless scandal that has ruined their lives. St Anne's is to be Ida's salvation, but it soon dawns on her that the school might not be quite the refuge she had hoped for. The school's buildings were constructed by a Victorian lunatic. Its principal, Miss Christie, is a dusty combination of cold war paranoiac and Edwardian governess, insisting both on regular drills in preparation for nuclear attack and the importance of girls wearing their hair up. The rest of the staff, from lugubrious bluestocking teacher Vera Clarke (Classics) to 'Loopy Linda' the English mistress, are antique, creepy, despairing or all three. The exception – and one of our narrative guides through the mayhem – is geography teacher Eleanor Alston, clinging to hope and sanity as she approaches 40 in the aftermath of a failed love affair. Into this stagnant pool of scholarship is dropped the replacement for the late Miss Hamilton (history, ancient), the meek but regrettably presentable Matthew Langfield, an improbable ex-Westminster schoolmaster and St Anne's first and only male teacher, and ripples ensue. Ida's fellow students, having largely been deposited by parents indifferent to the school's underwhelming reputation and keen only not to be bothered with details, are a restless bunch, prone to smooches, cliques, gossip (Cindy Riley, in the works shed, with the groundsman?) and outbreaks of insubordination. They have their queen bee, Diane Fulbrook, the dazzling head girl with ambitions to be a police officer; and their bad fairy, Louise Adler (almost certainly some relation to Irene, Sherlock Holmes's rival). Louise is the school's only Jewish pupil and spoken of in whispers; she has pushed one girl out of a window and set another on fire at the Tea Cosy cafe, and Ida has barely learned of her existence when she is told that they will be roommates. Then Diane is taken ill with a progressive neurological disorder that defies medical investigation. When, one by one, her fellow students develop similar symptoms, and diagnoses from demonic possession and Soviet poisonings to mass hysteria begin to circulate, inevitably suspicion falls on the newest arrivals. In Havoc, Waits mines the rich seam of girls' school fiction to delirious and rewarding effect. There are welcome echoes of St Trinian's – the shade of Alastair Sim hovers over the staffroom, comforting and anarchic at once – and there is abundant Ealing comedy in the madcap chases through school corridors and machinations in the lighting gallery during the school play. Yet beneath the comedy lies a distinctly unsettling undertone: the girls experience a convincingly visceral terror that edges towards Shirley Jackson territory and gives their hysteria an extra dimension. This, along with a genuine unexpectedness in the characterisation and a lot of very funny dialogue, loosens things up and brings real originality to the game. Combined with excellent pacing, a plot so deliciously thick you could stand a spoon up in it, and the boldness required to splice a darker thread into the narrative, it all adds up to a thoroughly satisfying contribution to a happily capacious genre. Havoc by Rebecca Wait is published by Riverrun (£16.99). To order a copy for £15.29 go to Delivery charges may apply
Wales Online
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Forget Hollywood this cinematic location has quietly become a film and TV filming favourite
Forget Hollywood this cinematic location has quietly become a film and TV filming favourite While we're used to seeing iconic cities like Paris, New York and LA on the big screen, one dreamy destination has started to steal the spotlight, and it's not where you think.... With its craggy coastlines, soaring mountains and ancient castles, Wales is the perfect backdrop for numerous stories, and it's caught the attention of streaming giants. (Image: Paula Hanks-Jones ) While we're used to seeing iconic cities like Paris, New York and LA on the big screen, one dreamy destination has started to steal the spotlight, and it's not where you think. With its craggy coastlines, soaring mountains and ancient castles, Wales is the perfect backdrop for numerous stories, and it's caught the attention of streaming giants. A new report reveals that Netflix has generated over £200 million in revenue for the UK economy since 2020 through its investment in Welsh film and TV production. By producing iconic shows such as Sex Education, The Crown, and The Witcher in Wales, the streaming platform has turned the country into a major production hub. Anna Mallet, Vice President of Production, UK, Netflix, said: "Blessed with incredible creative talent and beautiful natural landscapes, Wales is an amazing place to make entertainment, so Netflix is delighted that our Welsh productions can continue to create such enduring cultural and economic opportunities.' Netflix's influence is expected to grow even further with the recent release of the biggest feature film ever shot entirely in Wales. Starring Tom Hardy, Havoc follows a deal gone wrong and the rescue of a politician's estranged son from the criminal underworld. Critics describe the film as 'insanely violent' and 'relentlessly brutal,' but they have lavished praise on its action sequences, shot in locations across Wales. In recent years, screen tourism, or set-jetting, has emerged as one of the fastest-growing trends in the travel industry, and Wales is in a prime position to capitalise on the growing demand. Article continues below Seren Welch, a Screen Tourism Specialist, explains its significance: 'This is an area of tourism that's seen exponential growth in the last ten years." The data supports this as Expedia's trends research in 2023 showed that 40% of trips booked on their platform were influenced by Film or TV content. Streaming platform giants like Netflix have further accelerated this trend. Their global reach has introduced viewers to epic landscapes and historic locations, sparking curiosity and inspiring travel to film locations. Welch highlights Netflix's 2022 findings: 'Their subscribers were 2.4 times more likely to put a destination at the top of their travel list after seeing it in a show… something a tourist board can only dream of." She elaborates, "Platforms can even track destination search spikes exactly when a new show seen with Emily in Paris and Bridgerton." This connection between storytelling and real-world exploration demonstrates the emotional pull of dreamy filming locations, and we've got them in spades here in Wales. Here's a roundup of some of the TV shows and Films shot in Wales, where you can follow in the footsteps of your favourite characters. Gavin and Stacey The cultural impact of BBC's beloved series, Gavin and Stacey, cannot be understated (Image: (Image: PA) ) The cultural impact of BBC's beloved series, Gavin and Stacey, cannot be understated. The tear-jerking Christmas Day finale has become one of the most-watched scripted TV shows of the century, viewed by over 19 million people. Fans will surely know that the seaside town of Barry has become a pilgrimage site for fans since it first hit our screens in 2007. The show's popularity has spurred countless visitors (from Wales and beyond) to follow in their footsteps, exploring the spots immortalised on screen. Many of the most memorable scenes were shot in the South Wales town, like those classic moments outside Stacey's house or the retro amusement park where the characters bonded over chips and banter. Barry Island was one of the main locations, and it's hard to find a scene without it! Stacey works at Marco's cafe, a real establishment on the seafront; Nessa works at the local arcades. The gang often hangs out on the beach near the Western Shelter by Boofy's and O'Shea's chip shops (delicious), and it's where Gav first meets Stacey off the bus after their initial meeting in London. From superstar gigs to cosy pubs, find out What's On in Wales by signing up to our newsletter here Doctor Who Since 2004, the producers of the popular science-fiction drama Doctor Who have made Wales the show's home (Image: PA ) Since 2004, the producers of the popular science-fiction drama Doctor Who have made Wales the show's home. The country has hosted multiple Time Lords, Daleks, and countless other monsters. Doctor Who has filmed so extensively in Wales that the country has become synonymous with the beloved show. Many scenes were shot in and around Cardiff, Newport, and other locations. Bad Wolf Studios in Cardiff serves as the show's primary studio base. The production team has repeatedly used many Welsh locations, making them easily recognisable to fans. The National Museum of Wales, located in central Cardiff, has appeared in eleven episodes, often serving as a museum setting. They've also filmed at Tredegar House for twelve different episodes, making it the most frequently used Doctor Who filming location in the UK. Notable appearances include Series 3, Episode 8, "Human Nature," and Episode 9, "The Family of Blood," where the house stood in as the Farringham School for Boys. Now that Russell T Davies has returned as showrunner, the TARDIS shows no signs of leaving anytime soon. In 2024, the crew filmed scenes in Penarth and Cardiff city centre, where fans spotted the action unfolding. House of the Dragon Battle camp outside the walls of Harrenhal Castle (Image: HBO ) HBO decided to move away from Northern Ireland for the House of the Dragon series. The Warner Bros Leavesden Studios in England is now their new home base for production, with several exterior scenes being shot in Wales, Cornwall, Devon, and some European destinations, including Spain and Portugal. The 10-part HBO series follows House Targaryen as they battle for the coveted Iron Throne 200 years before the events of the Game of Thrones series, which concluded in 2019. Game of Thrones has long been a huge driver of screen tourism, and Visit Wales is no doubt hoping the next season will continue to draw fans to the dreamy film locations. Northwest Wales was one of the main stars of season two, when eight locations were used. Half of these were on Anglesey, including Beaumaris and Porth-y-Cŵch. Llanddwyn Beach, near Newborough village, saw a good deal of filming and is said to have provided the backdrop for parts of Dragonstone. Excitingly for fans in Wales, the stunning landscapes of North Wales are set to play a major role in Season 3. The region's rugged mountains, dramatic coastline, and historic castles provide the perfect dramatic scenery for the fantasy series. Havoc Tom Hardy in Havoc (Image: Netflix ) Havoc is the latest in a long line of major TV and film productions filmed in Wales, thanks to Welsh Government backing through Creative Wales: from HBO's House of the Dragon to Amazon's recently announced Young Sherlock and the much-acclaimed recent cinematic release Mr Burton. In this Netflix thriller, Welsh director Gareth Evans delivers blood-soaked action scenes with hyperfast editing and incredible choreography, and it was all filmed right here. While Havoc might look like a gritty slice of American carnage, it was filmed across some of Wales' most recognisable (and brilliantly disguised) locations. Cardiff's Seren Stiwdios served as the heart of the production, but the relentless action soon spilt out into the streets, quite literally. In September 2021, WalesOnline reported on how Havoc transformed Cardiff Street into a snowy American city scene while shooting for the film. Bute Street in Cardiff saw its ground covered with fake snow and hosted American cars, police cars and a fire engine parked along the road. Scenes were also shot at the historic Pierhead Building and AB Ports, where all sorts of shady dealings and shadowy meetings occur under darkness. To the west, Forest Whitaker's character gets ambushed while parked at Swansea University's Bay campus in a chill setting that turns explosive in seconds. Harry Potter Fans will know that the brave house elf Dobby was buried on this beach (Image: Wales Online ) The original Harry Potter film series was filmed in Leavesden Studios, England, and in locations across the UK, including Wales. Freshwater West Beach in Pembrokeshire, Wales, was a filming location for the "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" movies, specifically for the Shell Cottage scenes. This gorgeous beach, known for its dramatic dunes and waves, was the backdrop for the heartbreaking scenes where Dobby, the house-elf, is buried. Fans will know that the brave house elf Dobby was buried on this beach, and people flock to the National Trust beach year after year to visit the fictional elf's resting place. Dobby was a key character in the Harry Potter films in the struggle against he-who-must-not-be-named and died at the hands of Bellatrix Lestrange after rescuing Harry and pals from Malfoy Manor in the Deathly Hallows film. In the decade since the film was released, the site of Dobby's resting place has become adorned with colourfully painted stones, hundreds of socks and even flowers. The Dark Knight Rises Fans of Batman - some in fancy dress - have been making a pilgrimage to the falls to visit the location used in the Batman film (Image: © WALES NEWS SERVICE ) Batman fans likely know that the filmmakers shot scenes for the 2012 blockbuster The Dark Knight Rises at a spectacular waterfall in the Brecon Beacons. For the exterior shots of Batman's secret hideout, director Christopher Nolan chose Henrhyd Falls to represent the infamous Batcave. The final film in the trilogy features the 90-foot waterfall as the spot where Robin discovers the Batcave after Batman's apparent death and rappels right through a curtain of cascading water. Standing at 27 meters, Henrhyd Falls is the highest waterfall in South Wales. Visitors can even step behind its cascading white curtain, vanishing just like Gotham's mysterious hero. Local authorities improved access several years ago as the site drew growing numbers of film fans and tourists. Previously, fans had to scramble up a steep, tree-lined hill and wade across a river to reach the falls. Today, a short woodland trail and a footbridge guide visitors directly to the base of the waterfall—where they can step behind the water and into the Batcave's cinematic entrance. Death Valley Death Valley is set in Wales, and was filmed in locations varying from Cardiff to the Brecon Beacons (Image: BBC/BBC Studios/Simon Ridgway ) At a BAFTA Cymru event ahead of the series debut on May 25, BBC Wales director Rhuanedd Richards said she was delighted that Death Valley was set in her hometown of Mountain Ash. However, despite being set in the Cynon Valley, most of the series was filmed elsewhere across South Wales. The series repeatedly features a few key locations, including the charming cottage of John Chapel (played by Timothy Spall). This picturesque home, with its beautiful stonework and blooming flowers, sits in St Hilary in the Vale of Glamorgan. Filmmakers also shot scenes at the cafe where Timothy Spall enjoys a macchiato. They used Brød Bakery, a Danish bakery chain with shops across Cardiff, located in Penarth. The new BBC One drama Dope Girls was filmed across Wales, including Swansea Guildhall, Newport Civic Centre, and St Fagans National Museum of History. You can read more about the filming locations here. Produced by Cardiff-based Bad Wolf, which created popular shows including Doctor Who and His Dark Materials, Dope Girls has been described by some as a "spiritual successor" to Peaky Blinders. One key location used was an award-winning Welsh castle and park. Lovely Margam Park in Port Talbot is home to the reputedly haunted Margam Castle, which was used for outside and inside shots in the drama, including Dalton's nightclub and courtyard. The Witcher The Witcher, starring Henry Cavill is another one of the big series shot in Wales (Image: Netflix ) The popular Witcher series has been filmed at several locations in Wales, primarily in Eryri National Park and along the Gower Peninsula in South Wales. Specific locations include Llyn Padarn, Zip World, Dolbadarn Castle, and the National Slate Museum in Snowdonia, and Nash Point and Three Cliffs Bay on the Gower Peninsula. Film crews also descended upon the village of Llanberis at the foot of Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) in September 2024 for the third series of The Witcher. The village was transformed, with fake boulders and a "fake" forest assembled in the Gwynedd village and black screens erected at Y Glyn, a popular beauty spot more commonly known as The Lagoons. You can read more here. Casualty The Casualty production team has used Cardiff as the backdrop for countless dramatic and heart-wrenching storylines (Image: BBC ) The Casualty production team has used Cardiff as the backdrop for countless dramatic and heart-wrenching storylines on the BBC's long-running medical drama for over a decade. They primarily film the show at BBC Roath Lock Studios in Cardiff Bay, which also houses the Welsh-language soap opera Pobl y Cwm set. Although Casualty is set in the fictional Holby City Hospital, the writers and producers often weave Welsh culture and identity elements into the narrative. The show has successfully brought the diversity of Wales to a national audience. Young Sherlock Young Sherlock filming in Monmouth (Image: Wales Online ) The Young Sherlock production team filmed scenes at several locations in Monmouth, telling the origin story of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's iconic detective. They transformed the town centre with extras in Victorian costumes and temporarily replaced shopfronts to create an authentic period setting, stacking pallets of fruit and veg outside a greengrocer's façade. Article continues below The crew used buildings such as Shire Hall, the Punch House pub, and the Oxford Coffee Shop. A Punch House employee said extras got into costume and had their make-up done inside the pub. The team also brought in a horse-drawn carriage near the Punch House and filmed a scene in the Beaufort Arms Court courtyard. You can read more here.
Tom's Guide
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
3 best Netflix action movies you (probably) haven't seen
From "Havoc" to "Bullet Train Explosion" to "Exterritorial", Netflix is chock-full of high-octane action movies to get your pulse pumping and your energy up. However, the sheer breadth of options available on that top-rate streaming service — especially when it comes to the streamer's original content — can make it easier said than done when narrowing that selection down to one quality action-packed flick. So we've made things a bit easier for you by spotlighting a trio of action movies that you might've missed the first time around. These underrated Netflix titles range from a French action thriller about a skilled female soldier who seeks out revenge for crimes against her family, to a gory and guns-blazing South Korean film about a bodyguard-turned-assassin. If it's fast-paced chase sequences, bloody fight scenes, expert stunt work and fiery explosions you're after, here are three Netflix action movies you (probably) haven't seen yet but definitely should. When it comes to action movies, nothing tastes quite as sweet as revenge — and Jang Ok-ju (played by "The Call" star Jeon Jong-seo), a former bodyguard for elite VIP clients, is out for just that after her best friend Choi Min-hee (Park Yu-rim) commits suicide and leaves behind a final wish of getting vengeance against Choi Pro (Kim Ji-hoon), the sex trafficker who abused and extorted her. Ok-ju tracks down Choi's address and sets off to brutally do her dearly departed friend's bidding. Written and directed by Lee Chung-hyun, "Ballerina" (not to be confused with the recent "John Wick" spinoff) has a 91% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and pulled in 14.7 million views and 23.1 million hours of viewing when it debuted on Netflix in October 2023, earning it the number one spot in Netflix's top 10 list of most-watched non-English films. Rohan Naahar of The Indian Express wrote of the "bone-crushing" thriller: "Neon visuals and a thumping soundtrack elevate Netflix's slickly packaged Korean revenge thriller that substitutes plot in favour of pure vibes." Watch "Ballerina" on Netflix now Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Written and directed by Nic Mathieur, this 2016 sci-fi action flick is set in a civil war-ridden Moldova, where US forces have been engaging insurgents of the former regime—that is, until a new threat emerges: an invisible and unknown entity that kills almost instantaneously any living being caught in its path. Leading the special-ops team dispatched to fight the supernatural beings is James Badge Dale as DARPA scientist Mark Clyne; Emily Mortimer also stars as CIA officer Fran Madison, with Max Martini, Bruce Greenwood and Clayne Crawford in supporting roles. Over on Pajiba, Jodi Smith writes of the film: "Instead of going for huge stars, awkward and unneeded backstories, and bloat, 'Spectral' manages to pack in just what a viewer needs to enjoy the plot and journey placed before them." Watch "Spectral" on Netflix now Dubbed "John Wick on the Riviera" by Vulture critic Bilge Ebiri, the Julien Leclercq-directed "Sentinelle" centers on Klara (Olga Kurylenko), a highly-trained French soldier who has returned home to Nice from serving in the Middle East traumatized by the harrowing experience. But unfortunately, the hits keep coming for Klara. After her sister Tania (Marilyn Lima) is horrifically raped and left in a coma, Klara users her lethal military skills to hunt down the men who hurt her sibling. Though some critics have pointed out that the lean-and-mean script (co-written by Leclercq and Matthieu Serveau) suffers from some cliches, Decider reviewer Johnny Loftus praises the action movie for balancing "its beats of emotional trauma against the darker forces of vigilantism," adding that the film "doesn't forgive its main character's drastic actions, but it illustrates pretty well how she got there." Watch "Sentinelle" on Netflix now
Time of India
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Martial arts star Sunny Pang to make Indian film debut opposite Anshuman Jha in 'Lakadbaggha 2'
International action cinema gets a thrilling new crossover as martial arts maestro Sunny Pang is set to debut in Indian cinema with the upcoming film 'Lakadbaggha 2 - The Monkey Business'. The sequel, which continues the gritty narrative of a vigilante animal lover, stars Pang alongside Indian actor Anshuman Jha , who reprises his role from the original. Following his memorable showdown with Tom Hardy in the recent action feature 'Havoc', Pang joins the Indian film industry with much anticipation. For 'Lakadbaggha 2', Pang and Anshuman Jha trained in Bangkok with the action choreography team led by Kecha Kamphakdee and Jaika Stunts. The film is currently being shot in Kolkata and West Java, Indonesia. Actor Anshuman Jha, speaking about his co-star, shared, "I loved Sunny Sir's work in Headshot. It was a dream to work with him, let alone match him in a fight. Sunny Pang brings with him a legacy of real, visceral action. Having him in Lakadbaggha 2 is not just a casting win, it's a statement," in a press note. For Pang, the experience marks more than just a career milestone. "This is my first time working on an Indian film, and the level of respect and passion I've experienced here has been incredible," said the actor. "Lakadbaggha 2 isn't just another action film, it's a story with soul, a fight with purpose. At its core, it champions animal rights, and that mission gives every punch, every kick, a deeper meaning," he added. He further noted the intensity of the production process and said, "Our training in Bangkok to shoot in Indonesia, it's been an intense, unforgettable journey for me. And I'm truly honoured to contribute to this animal lover vigilante universe. One thing's for sure, we're holding nothing back."
