--- title: "Haywire: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/haywire/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/haywire" critics_score: 65 critics_reviews: 18 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." --- # Haywire (2011): what the critics said Critics' score 65 from 18 reviews: 10 positive, 4 mixed, 4 negative. Most critics agree on where Haywire earns its keep: Gina Carano. The reviews praise her fight scenes almost without exception, noting that Soderbergh shoots them from a respectful distance, without wires or stunt doubles, and lets the raw sound of the blows do the work. Several also admire the lean approach, treating the film as an exercise in thriller technique rather than storytelling. The reservations cluster around everything between the fights. The plot is called thin, derivative or convoluted, and a number of critics find the film too cool for its own good, with Slant judging it aloof and inconsequential and Time Out finding the hi-def visuals flat and banal. The spread is wide: from strong approval at The AV Club and Collider to outright dismissal at The Times, which argues Soderbergh never taught Carano to act. Even admirers tend to wonder whether she can carry a role that asks for more than a kick. ## The AV Club — Scott Tobias Rating A-. 19 January 2012. Soderbergh uses sophisticated trappings as a smokescreen for distilled lizard-brain entertainment built around Carano's athletic ass-kickings. The raw fight sounds and terse lead role make it bracing and satisfying action fare. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/haywire-1798171200) ## IndieWire — James Rocchi Rating B+. 19 January 2012. Soderbergh crafts a stylish, smart action vacation with sharp kicks and effective genre play around Carano's breakout. The film balances visual flair and physical thrills without overreaching. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/culture/review-steven-soderberghs-action-vacation-haywire-has-style-smarts-kicks-to-the-face-113852/) ## Screen Daily Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 7 November 2011. Festival review. Soderbergh delivers a fun, uber-stylish action-thriller with kinetic fight scenes and a dazzling physical performance from Gina Carano that proves seductive despite a thin plot. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/haywire/5034345.article) ## Total Film — Kevin Harley Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 6 January 2012. Gina Carano ably leads Steven Soderbergh’s revenge actioner with slick, muscular tag-team fights that deliver an agile drop-kick to doubts. The pared-back purity focuses on physicality and jazzy montage over story depth, proving effective with tough panache despite some limitations in range and emotion. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/haywire-review/) ## Empire — Simon Crook Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 10 January 2012. Soderbergh delivers a fresh, muscular payback movie with mischievous indie spirit, casting MMA fighter Gina Carano as a convincing action lead surrounded by star power. The film is great fun with well-choreographed, realistic fights and Soderbergh's signature style, though it stays a little too cool for maximum excitement. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/haywire-review/) ## Vulture Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 20 January 2012. Soderbergh's formula action-thriller is perfectly enjoyable thanks to Carano's arresting athletic presence and well-staged fights viewed from a respectful distance. Minor complaints about underenergized sections and lack of flashy payoffs do not detract from its appeal. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/2012/01/movie-review-the-vindictive-ex-girlfriend-project.html) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 19 January 2012. Gina Carano is crackingly good in the fight scenes, reminiscent of action queen Cynthia Rothrock, but the film is let down by boring moody location work between the action set pieces. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2012/jan/19/haywire-review) ## Slant Magazine — R. Kurt Osenlund Rating 2/4. 14 January 2012. Soderbergh's latest emphasizes visceral, un-sugarcoated fights but ultimately feels aloof and inconsequential, like Contagion. Stylistic choices and a lack of urgency prevent it from becoming essential viewing despite the novel lead. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/haywire/) ## Little White Lies — Adam Woodward Rating 3/2/2. 19 January 2012. Soderbergh assembles a strong ensemble for a stylish but surprisingly lacklustre and formulaic thriller. The fight sequences stand out as cool yet ultimately tiresome and gimmicky. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/haywire) ## Time Out — Keith Uhlich Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 17 January 2012. Soderbergh's action trifle lacks thrill and excitement despite Carano's presence; the director's disinterest is evident and the hi-def visuals render everything flat and banal. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/haywire) ## The Times — Kevin Maher Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 20 January 2012. The clever idea of casting real MMA champion Gina Carano is gut-punched into idiocy by Soderbergh, who fails to teach her to act; the plot is derivative and the film feels flat. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/article/haywire-qj88nk9t85b) ## Los Angeles Times — Betsy Sharkey 20 January 2012. The film is less a tightly plotted action thriller than an excuse to showcase Gina Carano's substantial fighting skills, which prove thoroughly entertaining and awe-inspiring. It falls short of Soderbergh's best work due to loose plotting and lack of tension. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-xpm-2012-jan-20-la-et-haywire-20120120-story.html) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Todd McCarthy 7 November 2011. Soderbergh delivers an engaging action lark centered on Gina Carano's convincing physical performance as a covert operative who dominates her male co-stars in realistic fight scenes. The film succeeds as pure, unpretentious mayhem with strong fight choreography and a capable lead. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/haywire-film-review-258306/) ## The New Yorker — Richard Brody 24 January 2012. Soderbergh delivers a film of great style that delights in movement and physical action, sharing the adrenaline thrill of danger through tense, electric images. It conveys substance about professionals and government subcontractors via its visual aesthetic. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/richard-brody/haywire-and-its-haymakers) ## The New York Times — A.O. Scott 20 January 2012. The film is a cold and kinetic experiment in high-impact, low-concept genre filmmaking that prioritizes expertly choreographed action sequences over a preposterous plot. It showcases Gina Carano's debut effectively through its focus on physical confrontations. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/20/movies/steven-soderberghs-haywire-with-gina-carano-review.html) ## Variety — Justin Chang 7 November 2011. Festival review. Soderbergh's action-filmmaking chops get a swift, vigorous workout in this lean, efficient exercise that pares down narrative in favor of pure thriller technique and Carano's athletic prowess. It is tossed off with sangfroid and dry humor, with fluid filmmaking as its main thrill. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2011/film/markets-festivals/haywire-1117946530/) ## Collider — Matt Goldberg Rating A-. 19 January 2012. The critic praises Soderbergh's thoughtful approach to the action genre by centering a skilled female fighter, highlighting how the film challenges perceptions of violence against women while delivering exciting, realistic fight scenes. [Read the review](https://collider.com/haywire-review/) ## HeyUGuys — Craig Skinner Rating 4/5. 9 January 2012. The critic praises the film's stylish action sequences and Carano's physical performance, noting it's smart, stylish, and well-crafted with jaw-dropping set pieces. They highlight the fight choreography and subtle character moments. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/haywire-review/) ## NME — Owen Nicholls Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 21 January 2012. The review sees Haywire as a stylish, enjoyable diversion from Soderbergh with strong genre touches and a memorable lead. Gina Carano’s convincing physicality in the action sequences is highlighted as a standout element. [Read the review](https://www.nme.com/blogs/the-movies-blog/haywire-film-review-780033) ## The Wrap Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 19 January 2012. The critic finds Haywire an energetic action thriller that showcases Gina Carano's impressive fighting skills and physical presence, despite her limited acting experience. The film's plot serves mainly as a vehicle for exciting fight scenes and chases. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/haywire-aint-kick-head-34576/) ## Den of Geek — Duncan Bowles Rating 3/5. 14 January 2012. The critic finds Haywire disappointing as an action film due to its lack of structure, spectacle and emotional engagement. Gina Carano’s physical presence and fight scenes are singled out as the main source of appeal. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/haywire-review/) ## /Film — Germain Lussier Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 7 November 2011. Festival review. The review notes the fight scenes are entertaining and realistic, praises Soderbergh's direction for subtlety, but points out Carano's acting limitations compared to the cast; it's refreshing but not pulse-pounding. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/518415/haywire-review/) ## Eye for Film — Amber Wilkinson Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 18 January 2012. The critic finds the action strong thanks to Carano's physicality but criticizes the convoluted plot, pretentious flashbacks, and lack of emotional depth, calling it a brief kick for action fans but failing elsewhere. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/haywire-film-review-by-amber-wilkinson) ## Paste — Annlee Ellingson Rating 7.5. 19 January 2012. The critic commends Soderbergh for crafting a realistic espionage thriller led by MMA fighter Gina Carano, noting the grounded action sequences without stunt doubles or wires, though questioning if Carano can handle more emotional roles. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/haywire) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/haywire.md