Domino Review (5.0/10): Vietnam's Gang Thriller Takes Too Long

This Domino review covers a 2024 Vietnamese action thriller about a young man who loses his father and lands in the middle of a gang war. It is a modest genre piece with a few good ideas and some pacing problems. Here is what to expect before you press play.

Domino Review: The Story So Far (No Spoilers)

The Domino plot starts with a killing. An, played by Thuan Nguyen, sees his father murdered by a ruthless villain, and the loss pushes him step by step into a violent criminal world. The title, with its image of one piece knocking down the next, fits the way events cascade around him.

Once inside, An discovers rival gangs, strict hierarchies and deadly rules he never had to learn before. He has few allies and has to handle the threats on his own. The film's Vietnamese title, Domino: Lối Thoát Cuối Cùng, hints at a search for a last way out.

The film was released on 11 October 2024 and runs about 103 minutes. It was directed by Nguyễn Phúc Huy Cương, although IMDb lists it as The Domino File and credits a different director, Tino Nguyen. Sources disagree, so treat the credit with some caution.

What Works in Domino

The strongest material is the underworld itself. Scenes that show how the mob is organised, who answers to whom and how the players size each other up give the film its best energy. Critics who covered it singled out these moments and the interplay between the characters.

The setup is also easy to follow. A revenge-driven newcomer entering a dangerous world is a familiar hook, but it gives the story a clear spine. You always know what An wants and what stands in his way.

At under two hours, it is not an endurance test. If you enjoy action movie reviews built on gang rivalries, there is enough here to keep you watching.

Domino Cast and Performances

The Domino cast is led by Thuan Nguyen as An. Around him are Quốc Cường, Huỳnh Anh Tuấn, Cát Hạ and Henry Nguyễn. Nguyen Quoc Cuong is credited as the Viet Triad Leader.

The film asks Thuan Nguyen to carry a lot of grief and fear, and he gives An a watchable, grounded presence. The ensemble works best when the gang characters face off, since those exchanges give the film its tension.

The romance subplot is where the cast has the least to work with. It takes up a large share of the running time, and it never gains the weight of the main story.

Where Domino Stumbles

Pacing is the main complaint. The film takes a long time to get going, and the early stretch can feel sluggish for a movie that promises a violent descent into crime.

The romance is the second problem. It eats up far more screen time than it earns, and it pulls attention away from the gang conflict that makes the story interesting.

The result is a film with solid parts that never fully connect. Fans of sharper thriller movie reviews may want more momentum and a tighter structure. Audience response matches this: IMDb users give it 5.0/10, and the few published reviews describe a film that misses the mark without being a total loss.

Is Domino Worth Watching?

It is worth watching only if you are already a fan of crime thrillers or Vietnamese cinema. It is a watchable genre effort once you get past the slow start and the overlong romance.

The film does not reinvent the revenge story, and it does not hit the highest notes of the gang-war genre. But the mob scenes show promise, and the premise is clear and easy to follow. Treat it as a curiosity rather than a must-see.

For more background on the credits and cast, see the IMDb page for the film. If you like stories about men caught in cycles of vengeance, you might also try Rathnam, our review of Hari's loud action film.

Who Will Enjoy Domino

• Viewers who like gritty gang-war stories with a revenge angle.

• Fans of Vietnamese action and crime cinema who want to see the local scene.

• Patient audiences who can sit through a slow opening for a few strong underworld scenes.