Credit: Netflix

How many times did you come across The Night Comes for Us on Netflix and skip right past it? Don’t worry, we don’t blame you because this film holds its power in silence. But here’s the thing: missing this film means missing one of the most intense and well-crafted action thrillers Netflix has.

So let us ask you, when was the last time an action movie actually impressed you with how real the fights looked? We’re not talking about the protagonist taking down twenty villains at the same time. Well, The Night Comes for Us isn’t about that at all.

Released in 2018 and directed by Timo Tjahjanto, this Netflix movie takes you straight into the world of the Six Seas, which is a powerful triad controlling organised crime across Southeast Asia. We meet Ito (played by Joe Taslim) there, and he is one of their top enforcers. And this guy is super efficient in what he does.

Right at the beginning, Ito is sent on a mission to wipe out a village connected to a rival group. And by ‘wipe out’ we mean a clean sweep. Good for him that the job is carried out exactly as expected: brutal and without hesitation. But then he finds a young girl, Reina, who is the only survivor left.

Now think about this: what happens when the most reliable man in a criminal organisation suddenly decides not to follow orders? That’s exactly what Ito does by sparing her. And as he does, that one decision of his changes everything. This act doesn’t just get him fired but also puts him directly in the crosshairs of the Six Seas. From that moment on, he becomes the target.

Our guy, Ito, has people looking for him, and they don’t send just anyone after him. They send Arian, played by Iko Uwais. If you’ve seen The Raid, you already know what he brings to the table. In this film, he is not just another assassin but someone who knows Ito personally. They had the same training and the same background, which led to them also having the same level of skill.

So now the question here is, how do you survive when the person hunting you is just as capable as you are? From here, the film turns into a relentless pursuit. Ito moves from place to place trying to protect Reina, but every location becomes a battleground. The Six Seas keeps sending operatives, and each one is more dangerous than the last.

But you were here for the action sequences, and they are well handled in the film. The fights are detailed and very clear, so it’s not like you don’t know what’s going on. And no shaky-cam business here. You see every movement and every mistake.

The choreography is based heavily on silat, a Southeast Asian martial art, and it shows in this Netflix film. The combat feels aggressive, and it is mixed with hand-to-hand fighting with knives, guns, and anything else within reach. And unlike many action films, injuries matter here. Characters get tired, and they slow down, but most importantly, every fight leaves a mark.

So if you have ever felt that most action movies look fake or over-edited, this film is the exact opposite. Everything here is built on physical performance and proper choreography.

So next time you are browsing Netflix, don’t skip past it again. Give The Night Comes for Us a chance, and you might end up wondering how you overlooked it for so long.