Gnarly Trailer for Martial Arts Action Film ‘Mayhem!’ from Xavier Gens
by Alex Billington
December 7, 2023
Source: YouTube
“What have you done?!” “You woke up the beast.” IFC Films has revealed a new US trailer for the intense action film set mostly in Thailand titled Mayhem! (aka Farang), the latest creation from the French genre filmmaker Xavier Gens (of Frontier(s), The Divide, Cold Skin). The film already opened in France in June and premiered at the 2023 Neuchatel Fantastic Film Festival in the summer, now set for an early January release in the US. Sam is an exemplary inmate. A few months before his release from prison, he is diligently preparing for his reintegration. During a leave, his past catches up with him and an accident leaves him only one choice: escape. Five years later, after rebuilding his life in Thailand, he has founded the family he had always dreamed of. But Narong, the local godfather, forces him to plunge into delinquency again. When Sam wants to stop everything, Narong attacks his family… Now Sam will cross Thailand to take revenge on his executioner. Mayhem! stars Nassim Lyes, Olivier Gourmet, and Vithaya Pansringarm. This reminds me of the film A Prayer Before Dawn also about a foreigner in Thailand fighting. The fights do look badass.
Here’s the official US trailer (+ two posters) for Xavier Gens’ Mayhem!, direct from IFC’s YouTube:
Sam (Nassim Lyes) is a professional boxer about to be released from prison in France, but while on parole, his past catches up with him and he is forced to flee the country. Five years later, he has rebuilt a simple life on an exotic island in Thailand with his wife Mia and her daughter Dara, working multiple jobs to support his family and buy a piece of land to build a restaurant. As his life begins to improve, a job gone wrong puts Sam in the crosshairs of local crime lord Narong (Olivier Gourmet), who retaliates with brutal violence. Crushed but still alive, Sam is left with only one purpose: to seek merciless and bone-breaking vengeance. Mayhem!, also known as Farang, is directed by French genre filmmaker Xavier Gens, of the films Frontier(s), Hitman, The Divide, Cold Skin, and Budapest, and directing on the “Gangs of London”, “Mortel”, and “Lupin” series most recently. The screenplay is written by Magali Rossitto & Xavier Gens, in collaboration with Guillaume Lemans & Stéphane Cabel; from an original idea by Xavier Gens. Produced by Vincent Roget & Dimitri Stephanides. This first opened in France in June this summer. IFC Films will debut Mayhem! in select US theaters + on VOD starting January 5th, 2024 just after the New Year. Look good?