Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Indonesian fight/chase movie is well made but ultra-violent.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 17+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Raid: Redemption
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 8 parent reviews
Based on 13 kid reviews
Kids say the film is a well-made, extremely violent action movie that features prolonged and brutal fight scenes, making it an adrenaline-packed thrill ride for action enthusiasts, though it includes graphic violence and strong language. Many viewers praise its intense choreography and non-stop action, highlighting its appeal to older teens but cautioning that its violent content may not be suitable for younger audiences.
- extreme violence
- intense choreography
- non-stop action
- strong language
- age suitability
- viewer recommendation
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Rookie cop Rama (Iko Uwais) prepares for a day on the job as a member of a special-forces team: Their mission is to infiltrate a 15-story industrial apartment building and extract a sinister crime lord (Ray Sahetaphy). But when the team is spotted and the alarm is sounded, every resident of the building -- a collection of thieves and killers -- tries to destroy them. Rama finds himself alone, with only his martial arts skills to protect him. Things get even more complicated when he tries to save a wounded colleague, and -- even more shocking -- when he discovers the identity of the crime lord's right-hand man. It all comes down to a brutal, winner-take-all fight with the aptly-named Mad Dog (Yayan Ruhian).
Is It Any Good?
"Clever" may not be the right word for The Raid: Redemption, but it's certainly economical, compact, and potent. Writer/director Gareth Evans -- who was born in Wales and makes movies in Indonesia -- has come up with a good idea for a single-setting story, taking place over the course of one day, allowing for more focus on fighting.
The concept of the floors growing ever more dangerous as they get higher, with escape only on the bottom floor, is intriguing (and video game-like), and Evans brilliantly uses the look and feel of the dirty concrete and graffiti to emphasize menace. He often gets the camera close to the action, which sometimes has a visceral effect, but sometimes it's a little too close; there's some off-kilter shakiness and some routine filmmaking "tricks" that can distract from the experience. Ultimately, the movie is too purposefully violent for kids, and the "redemption" of the title never really comes into play (no one is redeemed).
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about The Raid's intense violence. How necessary is it to the story? How does the impact of the violence in a movie like this one compare to what you might see in a horror movie?
Is Rama a role model? Does he believe in people's inherent goodness, even though he's surrounded by corruption? Can he be a positive role model if he hurts and/or kills so many during his ordeal?
Is The Raid a good demonstration of martial arts? Is it used for self-defense or for unleashing violence?
How does the movie's setting -- an industrial, graffiti-covered apartment building -- add to or detract from the story?
Movie Details
- In theaters : March 23, 2012
- On DVD or streaming : August 14, 2012
- Cast : Doni Alamsyah , Iko Uwais , Ray Sahetaphy
- Director : Gareth Evans
- Inclusion Information : Indian/South Asian Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Sony Pictures Classics
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- Run time : 101 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : strong brutal bloody violence throughout, and language
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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