--- title: "Chaos Walking" year: 2021 kind: "film" canonical: "https://film.one/film/chaos-walking" fi1m_id: "chaos-walking" imdb_id: "tt2076822" tmdb_id: 412656 wikidata_id: "Q37447097" fi1m_score: 44 critics_score: 45 critics_reviews: 23 published: "2026-09-24T10:11:11.098785+00:00" updated: "2026-09-24T10:11:11.715549+00:00" region: "SK" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Chaos Walking (2021) Directed by Doug Liman · 1h 49m · SK 12 · Fantasy, Science Fiction, Adventure ## Identity Chaos Walking - **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/chaos-walking - **Type:** Film - **Fi1m ID:** chaos-walking - **IMDb ID:** tt2076822 - **TMDB ID:** 412656 - **Wikidata ID:** Q37447097 - **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2076822/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/412656, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q37447097 **Fi1m score: 44** · Critics 45 from 23 reviews *In a sentence:* Tom Holland is trying to keep his thoughts private; we would have appreciated the occasional success > *Chaos Walking* has a useful idea and two leads worth following, but little sense of what to do with either. Tom Holland makes public embarrassment funny; the adventure around him is thin, hurried and hard to care about. ## Synopsis Todd Hewitt (Tom Holland) lives with the Noise, which makes his thoughts audible and visible. He repeats his own name in an effort to control what other people can hear. His encounters with Viola Eade (Daisy Ridley) bring desire and embarrassment into the open, while Mayor David Prentiss (Mads Mikkelsen) represents authority in a society where thought can be used to control others. Todd needs to manage his mind, but his efforts to contain what he thinks leave him struggling to keep anything to himself. ## Review *Chaos Walking* is a disappointing science-fiction adventure with an idea that deserves a better script. Doug Liman takes the Noise, which makes thoughts available for others to hear and see, and builds a film around the difficulty of keeping anything to yourself. There is plenty to explore in that: embarrassment, desire, and the advantage held by someone who can control what others hear. The screenplay by Patrick Ness and Christopher Ford touches these possibilities, then keeps returning to broadly drawn confrontations. Tom Holland gives that idea its most persuasive use as Todd Hewitt, whose attempts to manage his own mind are both funny and uncomfortable. We felt for him when he repeated his name to keep his thoughts in check; the effort is small, recognisable and more affecting than the surrounding danger. His awkwardness needs little explanation, which becomes a problem when the Noise keeps supplying one. Doug Liman lets us read the embarrassment in the performance, then makes us listen to it as well. Daisy Ridley gives Viola Eade a welcome directness, and the two leads have an ease together that briefly makes the journey seem worth taking. Their quieter exchanges allow us to notice another person instead of another effect. But Patrick Ness and Christopher Ford do not give Viola Eade enough of a life beyond the requirements of the adventure, leaving Daisy Ridley to suggest what the writing has not supplied. Mads Mikkelsen makes Mayor David Prentiss compelling through sheer presence, though the surrounding conflicts give him too little to complicate. The horseback sequence offers a glimpse of a more distinctive film, with Noise trailing behind the riders as they move. Ben Seresin’s cinematography has something useful to work with here: we can see the thoughts moving through the landscape with the people thinking them. For a moment, the effect belongs in the action. Dan Weil’s production design is less successful at making this way of living feel convincing; we get too little sense of how constant exposure might change ordinary life. Doc Crotzer’s editing keeps the story moving, but gives its relationships too little room to develop. At 109 minutes, the film is not long, yet its haste makes the action feel less urgent because there is so little reason to worry about the people involved. The score by Marco Beltrami and Brandon Roberts adds urgency without making the danger feel personal. With thoughts already crowding the soundtrack, the action has plenty of noise and too little suspense. The larger difficulty is that Doug Liman cannot settle on how seriously to take the Noise. Jokes about unwanted thoughts sit awkwardly beside suggestions of male rage and coercion, and the film moves on before those subjects become uncomfortable. As a young-adult dystopian adventure, it has a chance to make the familiar business of growing up under hostile authority feel newly invasive. Instead, too many encounters could belong to any story about young people facing powerful adults, once the effects were switched off. We wanted more time with the two leads and fewer scenes telling us what Tom Holland had already made clear. There is enough warmth between them to keep the film from becoming a complete chore, and enough invention to make its waste frustrating. If the premise appeals, be prepared for an adventure much less curious about it than we were. *Fi1m score 44, published 24 September 2026.* ## What the critics say Most critics find Chaos Walking a disappointing adaptation, with a promising science-fiction premise reduced to a muddled, familiar young-adult adventure. Praise clusters around Tom Holland and Daisy Ridley: their charisma and chemistry make the central relationship more engaging than the thin characterisation might suggest. Several reviews also find worthwhile ideas in the audible-thoughts concept, particularly its potential to explore male rage, desire and control, though few think these receive enough attention. The sharpest disagreement concerns the Noise itself, which some find inventive and others confusing, repetitive or an obstacle to storytelling. The AV Club sees it as an engine for a bumpy but engaging adventure, while Polygon finds enough pleasure in the leads and Doug Liman’s energetic direction to forgive the jumbled story. Those warmer responses sit apart from a largely mixed-to-negative consensus, with recurring complaints about uncertain tone, weak stakes and underdeveloped themes. ## Straight answers **Is Chaos Walking worth watching?** *Chaos Walking* is difficult to recommend despite its appealing leads and thought-sharing premise; we score it 44 out of 100. Tom Holland makes Todd’s public embarrassment funny and affecting, but the hurried adventure gives its relationships too little room and its danger too little weight. It offers some warmth for those especially drawn to the idea. **How long is Chaos Walking, and what is it rated?** *Chaos Walking* runs 1h 49m and is rated 12 by the SK in Slovakia. It is a fantasy and science fiction film. **Where can I watch Chaos Walking in Slovakia?** *Chaos Walking* is streaming on Netflix in Slovakia. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service. **How violent or frightening is Chaos Walking, and is it suitable for children?** *Chaos Walking* has a UK 12 certificate, so it is not a choice for younger children. Its adventure includes danger and confrontations, while suggestions of male rage and coercion sit alongside jokes about embarrassing thoughts. We find it short on suspense, but that does not establish how comfortable a sensitive child will be with its content. **How does Chaos Walking compare to The City of Lost Children?** *Chaos Walking* is the weaker choice beside [*The City of Lost Children*](https://film.one/film/the-city-of-lost-children), which we recommend for its stranger, more fully imagined world and touching central partnership. Both offer speculative ideas and companionship, but the stolen dreams and black humour of *The City of Lost Children* receive more inventive treatment. Its crowded storytelling does, however, require a tolerance for occasional confusion. **Is Chaos Walking based on a true story or a book?** *Chaos Walking* is based on a novel by Patrick Ness, rather than a true story, and Ness also co-writes the screenplay with Christopher Ford. We cannot assess its faithfulness to the book here, but the film explains its central thought-sharing premise without requiring prior reading; our frustration is how little the adventure does with that idea. **What should I watch after Chaos Walking?** After *Chaos Walking*, try [*The City of Lost Children*](https://film.one/film/the-city-of-lost-children) (1995, Fi1m 78): Stolen dreams and unlikely companions inhabit a stranger, more fully imagined world. Then [*Akira*](https://film.one/film/akira) (1988, Fi1m 83): Adolescent anger becomes a public danger, with consequences the film takes seriously. ### Reviews we read (23) - **The AV Club**, A.A. Dowd (B-): Dowd finds the adventure bumpy but says its clever sci-fi premise gives it an inventive engine. The review especially praises the Noise concept and the leads’ likable chemistry. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/a-great-sci-fi-idea-elevates-daisy-ridley-and-tom-holla-1846404381) - **Screen Daily**, Tim Grierson (64/100, inferred): Screen identifies this as a review of Doug Liman’s film, but the accessible page does not reveal the critic’s verdict. The paywalled text also prevents identifying what the critic singles out for praise or complaint. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/chaos-walking-review/5157533.article) - **The New York Times** (64/100, inferred): The page could not be read, so its verdict and specific praise or criticism cannot be confirmed. The URL indicates a review of the named film. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/04/movies/chaos-walking-review.html) - **Time Out**, Eurico de Barros (64/100, inferred): The page identifies this as a review, but its article text is unavailable. No critical verdict or specific praise or complaint can be established from the supplied content. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/pt/filmes/chaos-walking-o-ruido-2021) - **IndieWire**, David Ehrlich (C-): Ehrlich finds the adaptation dull and compromised, flattening its unusual premise into a generic YA action film. He singles out the horseback sequence, with the characters’ Noise trailing behind them, as a glimpse of the genre-mashing film it might have been. [Read](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/chaos-walking-review-1234620687/) - **Los Angeles Times**, Kevin Crust (50/100, inferred): Crust finds the film watchable and engaging in places, but neither a disaster nor the exciting franchise launch it might have been. He praises the inventive Noise concept while criticizing how its cacophony overwhelms the storytelling and diminishes subtext. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2021-03-03/review-chaos-walking-tom-holland-daisy-ridley) - **Slant Magazine**, William Repass (2/4): Repass finds the film entertaining on the surface but a mess of contradictions that fails to realize its premise. He praises its depiction of thought as a tool of control, while faulting it for reducing its most imaginative ideas to set dressing and leaving colonialism underdeveloped. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/review-chaos-walking-only-scratches-the-surface-of-its-fascinating-premise/) - **The i Paper**, Francesca Steele (50/100, inferred): Steele finds the film tonally confused but credits it with engaging ideas about male rage and desire. She praises the leads’ charisma while criticizing the ill-timed jokes and the film’s failure to give its themes sufficient weight. [Read](https://inews.co.uk/culture/chaos-walking-review-finally-a-film-about-what-men-are-thinking-938528) - **Radio Times**, Kevin Harley (2/5): Harley finds the adaptation ambitious but misconceived, with an elusive tonal footing. He says its themes of male violence resonate, despite the film’s difficulty grounding them. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-zvk93a/chaos-walking/) - **Empire**, John Nugent (30/100, inferred): The critic finds the film a disappointing, clichéd trudge that squanders its promising premise. They praise the efforts of Holland, Ridley, and especially Mikkelsen, whose performance makes his character compelling despite the material. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/chaos-walking/) - **Variety**, Peter Debruge (30/100, inferred): Debruge finds the film’s high-concept premise quickly tiresome and its characters and confrontations generic. He praises Tom Holland for making Todd’s awkwardness endearing, but says the Noise needlessly spells out what an actor can convey silently. [Read](https://variety.com/2021/film/reviews/chaos-walking-review-1234920424/) - **Vulture**, Bilge Ebiri (30/100, inferred): Ebiri finds the film a muddled, generic sci-fi adventure that fails to make its premise pay off. He praises the touching idea of Todd repeating his name to manage his thoughts, but says the film does too little with it. [Read](https://www.vulture.com/article/movie-review-chaos-walking-with-tom-holland-daisy-ridley.html) - **The Guardian**, Benjamin Lee (25/100, inferred): Lee finds the film a watchable but misjudged and largely drab failure, with little chance of continuing as a franchise. He particularly criticizes the confusing visual effects for the characters’ thoughts and the script’s lack of characterization. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/mar/04/chaos-walking-review-cursed-ya-adaptation-stumbles-into-view) - **The Hollywood Reporter**, David Rooney (20/100, inferred): Rooney finds the film a dour, uninvolving sci-fi adventure that fails to make its characters or stakes compelling. He particularly criticizes its tiresome premise and simplistic gender politics. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/chaos-walking-film-review-4141876/) - **Polygon**, Jesse Hassenger (70/100, inferred): The critic finds the troubled adaptation likable and entertaining despite its jumbled story and abrupt ending. Holland and Ridley’s charisma and Liman’s energetic direction are singled out as pleasures. [Read](https://www.polygon.com/reviews/22311305/chaos-walking-review/) - **The Playlist** (64/100, inferred): The page content is blocked, so the critic’s verdict cannot be determined. No praise or complaint can be verified from the available text. [Read](https://theplaylist.net/chaos-walking-tom-holland-daisy-ridley-review-20210303/) - **Eye for Film**, Amber Wilkinson (60/100, inferred): Wilkinson finds it a watchable but flawed adventure aimed chiefly at younger viewers. She praises the chemistry and energy of Tom Holland and Daisy Ridley, while faulting the under-explored ideas and perfunctory supporting elements. [Read](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/chaos-walking-2021-film-review-by-amber-wilkinson) - **Paste**, Andy Crump (5.8/10): Crump finds the film flimsy, rushed, and broadly drawn, despite its promising premise. He praises Tom Holland’s comic portrayal of Todd’s thoughts, while criticizing the weak stakes and action sequences. [Read](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/chaos-walking-review) - **Den of Geek**, Don Kaye (2/5): The critic finds the film dull, poorly written, and unable to make its premise work. He singles out the confusing, distracting presentation of the Noise as a major flaw. [Read](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/chaos-walking-review-tom-holland-daisy-ridley/) - **/Film**, Hoai-Tran Bui (4/10): The critic finds the film a joyless, uninspired retread of YA dystopian stories. The inventive visual effects for the characters’ “Noise” are the film’s most striking feature. [Read](https://www.slashfilm.com/579737/chaos-walking-review/) - **NME** (25/100, inferred): The critic finds the film a dreary, messy plod that struggles to sustain mystery. They single out the grating, constant audible-thoughts concept as especially irritating. [Read](https://www.nme.com/reviews/film-reviews/chaos-walking-review-tom-holland-daisy-ridley-2912488) - **HeyUGuys**, Hayden Mears (20/100, inferred): The critic finds the adaptation a tedious, underdeveloped misfire that fails to make its ideas or world compelling. They praise the natural chemistry between Tom Holland and Daisy Ridley, whose quiet moments suggest a spark the film never develops. [Read](https://www.heyuguys.com/chaos-walking-review/) - **The Wrap** (20/100, inferred): The critic finds the film unengaging, with a thin story that wastes its talented cast. David Oyelowo’s scenery-chewing performance offers a welcome respite. [Read](https://www.thewrap.com/chaos-walking-film-review-tom-holland-daisy-ridley/) ## Details - **Director:** Doug Liman - **Director:** Doug Liman - **Screenplay:** Christopher Ford, Patrick Ness - **Novel:** Patrick Ness - **Cinematography:** Ben Seresin - **Editor:** Doc Crotzer - **Music:** Marco Beltrami, Brandon Roberts - **Production design:** Dan Weil - **Costume design:** Kate Hawley - **Producer:** Alison Winter, Doug Davison, Erwin Stoff - **Cast:** Tom Holland as Todd Hewitt; Daisy Ridley as Viola Eade; Mads Mikkelsen as Mayor David Prentiss; Demián Bichir as Ben Moore; David Oyelowo as Aaron; Kurt Sutter as Cillian Boyd; Cynthia Erivo as Hildy; Bethany Anne Lind as Karyssa Hewitt - **Runtime:** 1h 49m - **Certificate (SK):** 12 - **Release (Slovakia):** 13 February 2023 - **Genres:** Fantasy, Science Fiction, Adventure - **Budget:** $125 million - **Box office:** $27 million - **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRf4ZgzHoVw ## Where to watch in Slovakia - Netflix: streaming *Checked 2026-09-24.* Also available in: AE, AT, AU, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HR, HU, IE, IN, IT, JP, KR, MX, NO, NZ, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SG, SI, SK, TH, US. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country. ## If you liked this - *Prospect* (2018): A hostile science-fiction frontier where the central relationship earns its moments of trust - *The City of Lost Children* (1995), Fi1m 78: Stolen dreams and unlikely companions inhabit a stranger, more fully imagined world — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-city-of-lost-children.md) - *Akira* (1988), Fi1m 83: Adolescent anger becomes a public danger, with consequences the film takes seriously — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/akira.md) - *Midnight Special* (2016): An unusual child, a pursuit, and adults whose concern gives the danger weight - *The Innocents* (2021): A harsher story of children with psychic powers, attentive to cruelty and responsibility --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/chaos-walking