Cinema has no rules, with everything from genre, plot structure, and visuals constantly experimented with both in mainstream and indie films in an attempt to craft new and exciting viewing experiences. This also applies to the pacing of a film, and while the majority of movies give fans a breather to contemplate what is going on, a select few instead opt to apply pressure from start to finish. These 10 films, from various genres, exemplify the best use of fast and consistent entertainment from start to finish.
10
‘Hardcore Henry’ (2015)
A mute amnesiac enhanced with cybernetic parts awakens aboard an airship, being told that the person working on him is his partner. As she attempts to return to his functions of speech and memory, the ship is attacked, and Henry escapes via an escape pod without the woman he loves. Now, Henry wanders the streets of Moscow, pushed on by mysterious messages, to get his wife back from the man who stole her.
A Live Action Video Game
Shot entirely from a first-person perspective, Hardcore Henry plays out like a real-time, ultra-violent video game. The action flick also wastes little time establishing what it is, with a brief framing of the first few lines of dialogue straight into Henry’s bloody quest for revenge. The movie may not be ideal for those with motion sickness, but it certainly delivers for those who love action movies that never let up on the action and are bone-crunchingly painful to watch.
9
‘Rampage’ (2009)
Taking place over a single day, Rampage follows the disenfranchised Bill, whose obsession with conspiratorial and ‘black pilled’ content has led him to lose faith in the value of life. Bill decides to go on a killing spree, having spent months planning his route and targets. The small town where he lives is not even close to ready for what he intends to unleash on them, as Bill creates a playground for him to air his grievances with words and violence.
Killing American style
As much as Uwe Boll is a contentious figure, there is no doubt that the director hit his stride with a series of films focused on brutal action with a simple premise. Rampage is the first of three films in the trilogy, along with Assault on Wall Street, where Boll took this approach. All these films deliver, but the first Rampage has the benefit of being shockingly brutal in a way that will catch many off guard. Rampage may be highly exploitative, but in an environment where the fear of radicalization and shootings is more prevalent than ever before, it is a fascinating, albeit disturbing, watch.
8
‘Krazy House’ (2024)
A devout Christian family, aptly named the Christians, follows patriarch Bernie (Nick Frost) and matriarch Eva (Alicia Silverstone), raising their two kids in an idyllic suburban household. Yet, when there are problems in the kitchen, Bernie hires some pushy Russian repairmen who begin to dismantle the home. When Bernie confronts them, the truth comes out as to why they have come, and an insane war between Bernie, the Russians, and his now corrupted family begins.
From Freneitc Comedy to Over-The-Top Horror
Krazy House is a film in two parts, one part parody of 1990s American Sitcoms, and one part absurdist horror piece where anything goes. Still, both halves go hard and don’t let up, with the parody having that frenetic pacing of a ’90s sitcom with lots of cuts to different conversations, an obnoxious laugh track, and overly expressive characters. The latter… Well, we said anything goes, and multiple rules are broken. To deliver as much chaos as the Krazy House does, the movie pushes forward at a quick pace.
7
‘MadS’ (2024)
After taking drugs and hitting up a party, Romain stumbles upon a mysterious woman who recently escaped from a facility and is now harboring a strange disease. The disease, which causes those infected to turn into zombie-like creatures, starts to cause chaos everywhere Romain goes. At the same time, Romain, feeling the effects, also begins to fight off his urges to hurt others.
One Wild and Terrifying Party
A single-shot zombie apocalypse film with sleek visual direction and pulse-pounding music, MadS is maybe one of the most non-stop thrill rides of the 21st century. Even during moments of contemplation on Romain’s part, there is always a consistent urgency to the events unfolding. Fans of inventive zombie movies will appreciate the pacing and creative spin on the genre in MadS.
6
‘Crank’ (2006)
Crank follows Chev Chelios (Jason Statham), an LA-based British hitman who finds himself injected with a synthetic drug that kills him if his adrenaline stops pumping. Hellbent on getting revenge, Chev goes after those that crossed him, doing anything he can to keep himself pumped up in the process.
You Slow Down, You Die
Crank’s premise does not allow for a dull moment, as Jason Statham’s Chev Chelios is forced to keep his heart pumping to stay alive. With the movie setting up its premise early, the story that follows is a long, desperate attempt to keep the adrenaline pumping. While the premise could have been a failure, as it is admittedly silly on paper, it manages to work and deliver a fast-paced action film that stands out as one of the best from Statham.
5
‘Whiplash’ (2014)
Andrew Neiman (Miles Teller) is an aspiring jazz drummer who finds himself under the tutelage of verbally abusive and intense conductor Terence Fletcher (J.K. Simmons). Unable to meet his mentor’s standards, Andrew becomes obsessed with proving him wrong and cuts all ties with others to focus solely on music.
Jazz in Motion
Looking to try to mimic the frenetic pace of Jazz, Whiplash uses editing and tight pacing to capture a similar flow. The intensity of the music is also mimicked in Miles Teller’s obsessive playing and J.K. Simmons’ loud and unforgiving persona. Whiplash certainly lives up to its name, and the movie has become championed by critics and fans alike for its perfectly crafted medley of film and music.
4
‘Apocalypto’ (2006)
Set before the decline of the Mayan civilization, Apocalypto follows Jaguar Paw, a man whose peaceful village is ransacked by brutal raiders looking for sacrifices. Taken to a large city, Jaguar is given the chance to run for his life in a game of chase. While others falter, Jaguar is driven to survive to return to his pregnant wife and young son, whom he hid in a well when his village was first attacked.
A Fast-Paced Chase Through the Jungle
A prolonged chase scene makes up the majority of the runtime of Apocalypto, with one man desperately fighting off hunters while trying to make it back to his family. As contentious as Mel Gibson has been throughout his career, there is no denying the man has talent both in front of and behind the camera, with Apocalypto delivering one of the most pulse-pounding chase scenes ever committed to film. You can burn through several buckets of popcorn watching this one, as the movie is meant to get the adrenaline pumping from the very start and never lets up.
3
‘Pusher’ (1996)
Frank is a low-level drug dealer in Copenhagen, who begins a spiral into desperation as a deal gone wrong sees him owing a large amount of money to the wrong people. Given a week to make amends for his mistake, Frank hits the streets to wheel and deal, getting more desperate and violent as time goes on.
A Drug Dealer’s Desperate Attempt at Redemption
Pusher and its sequels are now often overlooked when discussing the films of Nicolas Winding Refn, as they are far from the polished, experimental masterpiece that would come to define the director. Instead, what you have with Pusher is a pretty story of life on the streets of Copenhagen, filled with violent and desperate people. Here, audiences get to see a deal gone bad in the opening moments of the movie, only to follow one man’s desperation as he tries to avoid being murdered for his mistake. Even in the dialogue-heavy moments, Frank’s desperation is always at the forefront of the story, making every moment feel intense and meaningful.
2
‘The Sadness’ (2021)
A young couple, Jim and Kat, end up getting separated when a sudden outbreak of violence floods the streets of Taipei. As the two head out in search of each other, they are confronted by a disease that seems to inhibit people from carrying out their most violent inhibitions. Unlike zombies, who hunt for food, the threat is ever-present, as Kat soon finds herself stalked by one particular infected man who is obsessed with catching her.
Non-Stop Zombie Madness
About five minutes into The Sadness, a series of brutal and violent murders occurs on the screen in the form of enraged zombies. It is intense, but what makes The Sadness better than just shock content is how expertly crafted every moment of chaos is, and the pace it keeps throughout the entire runtime. Still, this one is not for the squeamish, but those who like a challenge will find one of the fastest-paced and best-constructed horror films of the 21st century.
1
‘The Social Network’ (2010)
The Social Network chronicles the rise of Facebook by following Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg) from his years at Harvard to building his empire with his friend Eduardo Saverin (Andrew Garfield).
The History of Facebook Condensed
While one would have initially thought a movie about Mark Zuckerberg would be anything but fast-paced from start to finish, David Fincher delivered just that. The main trick here is the film’s dialogue, which is purposely delivered at a fast pace to bring gravitas to every conversation had, averaging 2.51 words per second, and the opening sequence delivered at 3.83 words per second. Add in quick cuts in the editing, and The Social Network manages to keep the pace going fast throughout its almost two-hour run-time without a dull moment to spare.
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