Mayhem (2017)

July 10, 2018

Directed By: Joe Lynch

Starring: Steven Yeun and Samara Weaving

Quote: "How do I feel? ...I feel like taking my clothes off, I feel like causing extraordinary amounts of property damage. I feel like I wanna scream, wanna fuck, like twisting limbs. And breaking bones... I feel great Mark. "

Trivia: The two employees having sex in the background of Derek's video were actually having sex on set. The actor and actress were in a relationship.







We've all had bad days and we have all thought about committing some act of revenge. Whether or not we actually carry out the act is another story. I think that is what makes the revenge film narrative so compelling. There a hundreds of these films. In the 1970s, 80s, and 90s, we watched in awe as Paul Kersey played by the incredible Charles Bronson meted out revenge in the Dead Wish series. The Korean revenge trilogy beginning with Oldboy captivated world audiences and received critic's praise. There is something about revenge that resonates with the human psyche. We have trouble when an injustice goes unpunished. We want to see justice served. Mayhem is a movie where justice is violently served to the delight of the viewer.

Mayhem is a splatter comedy horror about Derek Cho (played by Steven Yeun from the Walking Dead) who has gradually turned into a cutthroat corporate businessman. After denying to help a woman named Melanie Cross (Samara Weaving from The Babysitter), Derek is set up by another employee who they call "The Siren" and fired by "The Boss." However, as he's being escorted outside by security, a quarantine is placed on the building. A virus causes people to act out on their worst impulses has taken over the building and every is required to remain in the building for the next eight hours. Also, we learn that in the past the virus had infected a person who murdered another person but was acquitted so the actions of anyone infected with the virus cannot be held responsible. Basically, during the eight hour quarantine, people are allowed to do whatever they want (kind of like The Purge... except a virus, and not just the worst parts of human nature, is compelling them). What follows is a violent splatter fest of blood as the team of Derek and Melanie murder their way to the top floor to seek revenge on the people who have wronged them.

The film is amazing and the fact that it takes place in an office environment makes it all the better. For any of us who have worked in an office or can at least imagine the stuffy dehumanizing effects of office life, the setting makes for a really fun film. This is what made the office supply smashing scene from Office Space so satisfying. Lacking guns in an office environment Derek and Melanie make use of the maintenance storage facility arming themselves with wrenches, screw drivers, a nail gun, and even a handheld electronic saw.

There are so many great bloody scenes. After being tricked by "The Reaper" (the guy whose job it is to notify people they have been fired) Melanie takes an electronic saw to his chest tearing him apart. During another scene Derek and Melanie must take on a group of the Siren's minions where they beat them to death with their maintenance tools. There is a cool squaring up between the two factions prior to the battle with a psychologist on the phone who attempts, and fails miserably, to calm the situation. Finally, after causing one of The Boss' hot girls to stab another one in the next and beating the other one unconscious, Derek has an all out battle with the boss who is wielding a golf club. I should also mention that during the entire movie there is violence, sex, and destruction happening in the background.

Steven Yeun's acting is of course great, but I think it is Samara Weaving that really steals the show. She is incredibly beautiful and has a certain toughness to her. Her character is huge fan of thrash metal. Derek has her what her three favorite bands are and she Motorhead, DRI, and early Anthrax. Afterwards she makes fun of Derek for liking Dave Matthews Band. This exchange is great and really drew me into her character.

Metalheads will also make the connection between the title of the film and the infamous Icelandic death metal band of the same name who are famous for actual murder and cannibalism. If you look closely, you can see one of their band stickers on Melanie's laptop. There are also a few metal gems on the soundtrack.

If you liked the movie Falling Down, but wanted to see a much less subtle version of a mental breakdown with a lot more violence, then Mayhem is the movie to see. A good mixture of comedy and gore, Mayhem was a really fun movie that made me fall in love with Steven Yeun and Samara Weaving even more.