On March 5th, 2021, the newest thriller in the movie industry, Chaos Walking, was released to theaters. Nearly a month later, on April 2nd, it was also released to digital rental. The film, Chaos Walking, is based on the young adult science fiction book series by Patrick Ness. This series consisted of three novels that explored the captivating setting of the New World and all the complications that arise with a new settler arriving. The book collection received great reviews from multiple publishers. The success of the books leads to a full feature film production that included some of the biggest names in Hollywood at the moment: Tom Holland, Daisy Ridley, Mads Mikkelsen, and Nick Jonas. 

Chaos Walking has not had an easy or normal production schedule, since filming started in 2017 and reshoots began in early 2019. The movie had a difficult time getting released because of numerous delays. Many speculate that the cause of the film’s delayed release date was due to the director, Doug Liman, and other cast members being too busy with other projects/movies. During this time Doug Liman was directing many other films such as American Made, The Wall, and Tread. Additionally, Daisy Ridley was working on Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, and Tom Holland was caught up in filming Avengers: Endgame, Cherry, and Spider-Man: Far From Home. Although the process was complicated and difficult, when the movie was finally finished it was not a disappointment to die-hard fans. One student, Olivia Ortiz (9), states “I can’t wait to finally watch Chaos Walking. I feel like I have been waiting for so long.” 

The fascinating plot and beloved cast really sparked people’s interests. The movie is about the life of Todd Hewit, played by Tom Holland, who goes on an incredible journey through the New World. We learn that the people of Todd’s hometown, Prentisstown, have been infected with “The Noise.” “The Noise” is a cloud that follows the residents of the town and is constantly saying out loud what the characters are thinking and feeling. Todd meets Viola, played by Daisy Ridley, and the two travel miles to escape David Prentiss, played by Mads Mikkelsen because he wants Viola killed. Chaos Walking presents themes about toxic masculinity, the measure of a man through his use of violence, power and hierarchical control, and gender politics (SCREENRANT). 

Chaos Walking gained the attention of many critics yet was not received well. The movie earned a 22% Rotten Tomatoes and 3.9 out of 5 stars by audiences. Although the film may have not been well received by movie critics/reviewers, fans of the book and people wanting to enjoy an authentic movie experience gained pleasure and happiness from watching. The film has an overall fast pace which keeps the viewers interested and entertained while watching. The comedic elements and themes woven throughout add up to a satisfying conclusion for both Todd and Viola. However, the film does leave off at a point that could be picked up in a sequel film. Although the film wasn’t met with rave reviews, fans of the novels still appreciated the content and storyline. While not a motion picture masterpiece, the creativeness, and following of the novel’s storyline can be appreciated by high school audiences and above.