TIMUR (NETFLIX) (2026)

SYNOPSIS: A story of two boys, raised as brothers and nursed by the same mother, who were separated and went on to lead very different lives. As time passes, fate brings them back together under vastly different circumstances—now as enemies on opposing sides.

MOVIE REVIEW:

We can more or less confirm that action fans are watching Timur because of Indonesian action star and The Raid leading man, Iko Uwais. After appearing in supporting roles in Hollywood action films like The Expendables 4, Snake Eyes and Mile 22, Uwais returns to his homeland to make his directorial debut.

Uwais plays Timur, a special forces soldier who, together with his buddy Sila (Jimmy Kobogau), is deployed to rescue a group of researchers held hostage by terrorists deep in the jungle. Conveniently, the mission takes place in the very region where Timur and Sila grew up, and their childhood friend or rather, “brother” Apolo (Aufa Assagaf) also happens to be one of the terrorists.

Before you dismiss it as clichéd, Timur is actually inspired by a real-life hostage crisis that took place in 1996. The story, credited to Samuel Rustandi and Titien Wattimena, recalls the spirit of an 80s John Woo action flick, placing heavy emphasis on themes of brotherhood, honour, sacrifice and bloodshed. Unfortunately, little of real substance emerges from Timur beyond its chaotic violence.

Frankly, the acting in Timur is mostly wooden and amateurish, despite the filmmakers’ attempts to squeeze emotional weight out of the relationships between the “brothers.” The numerous flashbacks feel more like random milk powder commercials than meaningful character development. The villains fare no better, coming across as forgettable caricatures armed with parangs and rifles. In fact, the main antagonist is so unremarkable that the only one who leaves any impression is his “Mad Dog”-inspired henchman.

If you are here purely for the combat sequences, Uwais and his stunt team certainly deliver plenty of action in the final act. Unfortunately, none of the set pieces come close to matching the standards of The Raid films. Making matters worse are the swirling, nausea-inducing camerawork and the laughable CGI blood effects and squibs.

Perhaps Uwais simply has too much on his plate. While the Indonesian jungle setting gives him ample room to stage and choreograph elaborate action scenes, he still seems to need someone like Gareth Evans, a steady guiding hand with a clear vision to bring out the best in him. As much as we want to love Timur, the film ultimately comes across as too amateurish to leave a lasting impression. Even the extended combat sequences feel sluggish and overlong rather than exhilarating.

MOVIE RATING:

Review by Linus Tee