Rating summary

Movie		1.5
Video		3.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		1.0
Overall		2.5

Havoc Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf August 15, 2021

A highly respected and Academy Award-winning documentarian, Barbara Kopple wasn’t content remaining the world of non-fiction filmmaking, crafting such important pictures as “American Dream” and “Harlan County U.S.A.” She wanted something more for her career, soon overseeing episodes of “Oz” and “Homicide: Life on the Street,” which brought her additional acclaim. Again, she wanted something more, finally landing a Hollywood studio gig with 2005’s “Havoc,” which was originally conceived by writer Jessica Kaplan, who pieced together an autobiographical story about suburban privilege and cultural appropriation before screenwriter Stephen Gaghan (fresh from his success with “Traffic”) was hired for a rewrite. The creative talent driving “Havoc” is impressive, also offering star Anne Hathaway one of her earliest dramatic roles, but all that muscle can’t lift this DOA project off the ground, as noble intentions to address the state of the Kids in America in the early 2000s transforms the feature into an unintentionally(?) hilarious parade of campy performances and ghastly dramatics.

In the comfort of the Pacific Palisades neighborhood, Allison (Anne Hathaway) is a restless teenager living a very comfortable life with her parents, Stuart (Michael Biehn) and Joanna (Laura San Giacomo). With nothing to do, she immerses herself in the PLC gang at school, with white kids using black culture to give themselves attitude and connection, joining boyfriend Toby (Mike Vogel) and best friend Emily (Bijou Phillips) as they fight immense boredom with drinking, drugs, sex, and rap music. Daring to venture outside their comfort zone one night, Joanna and her pals elect to visit East Los Angeles to score marijuana, coming into contact with gang member Hector (Freddy Rodriguez). Turned on by the danger of the inner- city lifestyle, Joanna decides to seek out Hector again, trying to get a connection going with the hardened crack dealer, excited by the danger of his world, bringing in Emily to join the adventure. Unable to recognize the danger they’ve put themselves in, the teenagers soon learn hard lessons about the real world, while classmate Eric (Matt O’Leary) chronicles the experience for a documentary project.

It’s the “gangsta culture” that’s keeping the kids of the Pacific Palisades busy, with the world of rap numbing the teenagers to the realities of life, especially with this crew, all born into affluent families. “Havoc” uses Eric’s documentary as an audience surrogate, getting to know Allison and her carefree ways, remaining tight with Toby, Emily, Sam (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), and Nick (Channing Tatum). The PLC crew loves to numb themselves with drugs and drinking, sing-alongs with Tupac, and occasionally brawl in beach parking lots, proving their gang-inspired aggressiveness, which is a big deal in the Pacific Palisades. Parents? The characters have them, but the screenplay clarifies the distance between the generations, as Allison struggles to connect with Stuart, while Joanna is former addict already dealing with so much in her life, leaving little room for guardianship. The PLC-ers are bored, rich, and don’t care about anything but their own pleasures, opening a direct portal to disaster.

“Havoc” tries to be a serious examination of affluent white kids gone wrong, but the production ends up with an After School Special-style take on Allison’s downward spiral. The silliness of the endeavor is amazing to behold, with the actors (especially Gordon-Levitt) going overboard to play suburban “gangstas” (this movie makes “Malibu’s Most Wanted” look like a documentary), inspiring laughs instead of critical psychological understanding. Only Allison comes through with any clarity, with the teenager learning to weaponize her sexuality, using it to unsettle Eric and his ever-present camera, tame dimwit Toby, and deal with predatory older men who offer her cocaine, which she shares with her friends. Kopple doesn’t investigate ideas on depression or neglect, electing to go the Larry Clark route with “Havoc,” blurring the lines between observation and exploitation as titillation seems to be more of a priority to the production.

A story emerges with Allison and her quest to charm Hector, a drug dealer and member of a violent street gang. She’s enchanted by his authority and forbidden appeal, embarking on a plan to return to East Los Angeles and capture his attention, with their meet cute being a weed sale gone wrong, as Toby wets his pants when confronted by authentic urban violence. Again, there’s something in the idea of this attraction worth exploring in a more intimate manner, but “Havoc” quickly becomes a series of scenes featuring dumb characters making bad decisions, with the writing offering broad conflicts instead of realism. Allison is revealed to be smart and aware, but she keeps returning to Hector and his ominous lifestyle, and the screenplay avoids directly confronting such moth-to-flame concentration.

“Havoc” was reportedly taken away from Kopple in the editing room, and the film certainly plays like the work of producers trying to make a fast buck with the movie. The last act is an absolute mess of plotting and payoff, with character arcs leading nowhere, and there’s not even an ending to the feature, which just stops mid-climax, leaving fates and fears up in the air as Allison coughs up a terrible summary of behavior. There’s also a scene involving a suicide attempt that’s bizarrely played for laughs, which I can’t imagine was the original creative intent for the moment, but “Havoc” is never quite sure what it wants viewers to take seriously or mock mercilessly.

Havoc Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation for "Havoc" offers an older master for the feature. Age is apparent throughout, offering a softer, lightly detailed look at frame particulars. Skin surfaces are passable, exploring the youthful appearances of the cast, along with the more creased look of older co-stars. Neighborhood tours are mildly dimensional. Colors enjoy brighter primaries on costuming and L.A. signage, and mood lighting registers as intended, with washes of red and green. Grain has an aged, processed appearence. Delineation is satisfactory. Source is in good condition.

Havoc Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA mix provides a circular sense of atmospherics, with active surrounds for community gatherings and road travel. Music also offers a life in the rears, following soundtrack selections. Dialogue is clear, preserving emotionality and hushed encounters. Low-end isn't commanding, but rap beats add some weight to the track.

Note: English subtitles for "Havoc" don't translate 90% of the Spanish dialogue, including an entire prison visitation scene around the 53:00 mark. I do not have a DVD of the film for comparison, so this may be a creative choice.

Havoc Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• A Home Video Trailer (1:56, SD) is included.

Havoc Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Whatever "Havoc" was intended to become, the melodramatic finished film doesn't represent it. Legal entanglements and revenge plots take hold of the story, which erase the exploratory nature of the feature's first half and its focus on the human side of Allison. Again, perhaps "Havoc" was conceived to be a more incisive look at delusional teenagers playing with fire, so wrapped up in chemical distractions, marketing influence, and parent-less experiences, they forget what's real. It's a fine concept for cinematic inspection, but the final cut is eager to get rid of anything meaningful or severe, instead making the endeavor a prime choice for Bad Movie Night fun.