Film ● Review: World Breaker
Title: World Breaker
Director(s): Brad Anderson
Screenwriter(s): Joshua Rollins
Studio: Gramercy Park Media, Peachtree Media Partners, Amasia Entertainment
Released: 2025
Runtime: 1h 34m
Starring: Luke Evans, Billie Boullet, Milla Jovovichich
My Verdict: Unfocused, starts off as sci-fi horror-action and then transitions to quiet post-apocalyptic life and coming-of-age. Uneventful and dull.
● If one thinks this is a sci-fi action piece with Milla Jovovich demolishing monsters from start to finish, then one will be disappointed. Her role is minor.
● The world is overrun by monsters known as “breakers”. They can kill anyone, whereas injured men generally become “hybrids”. Women can too but this is rare.
● The story begins with a residential block being evacuated. Willa (Billie Boullet), who just turned 15 years of age, leaves with her father (Luke Evans) who is a veteran. Meanwhile, her mother (Milla Jovovich) stays behind since she is the commander.
● Willa and her father take refuge on an island and the plot follows their efforts to survive.
● As already mentioned, Willa’s father is a veteran and he trains Willa. He also tells her stories, particularly war stories about a soldier named Kodiak. It seems he may be a real person but it is unclear if he is still alive.
● The theme is the potential power of and the need for a hero (real or otherwise). In a way, Milla’s mother is currently filling that role and Willa will perhaps take on that role in the future. This is indirectly supported by the fact that Willa’s parents are not named.
● The premise that men are susceptible to the breakers is arguably a bit forced. To be fair, this is not dwelled on so it is not a men-hating story and one needs a reason why women fight as well (apart from the desperate need for numbers).
● The production is decent as are the performances given what is written. It is for these reasons that one wants to buy into the narrative.
● But the film starts off as sci-fi horror-action and then transitions to quiet post-apocalyptic life and coming-of-age. It is unfocused if not outright jarring.
● Willa’s father initially provides the voiceover narration and one can predict the ending by the tone, which is fine, but the journey there is mostly uneventful. The ending, although expected and thematically consistent, lacks a denouement and is therefore still dissatisfying.
● Overall, the premise and plot may work well for a short film (or short story) but not for a feature-length film.
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