UB Spotlight: ‘Mayhem’ Hits Theaters This Friday

Directed by Xavier Gens, “Mayhem” hits theaters this Friday January 5th, via IFC Films.

Sam (Nassim Lyes) is a professional boxer about to be released from prison in France, but while on parole, his past catches up with him and he is forced to flee the country. Five years later, he has rebuilt a simple life on an exotic island in Thailand with his wife Mia and her daughter Dara, working multiple jobs to support his family and buy a piece of land to build a restaurant.

As his life begins to improve, a job gone wrong puts Sam in the crosshairs of local crime lord Narong (Olivier Gourmet), who retaliates with brutal violence. Crushed but still alive, Sam is left with only one purpose: to seek merciless and bone-breaking vengeance.

Xavier Gens shared the concept of the film; “To make a real, great, popular French action film; a nasty, unnerving film that can hold its own against foreign productions. And to tell a beautiful story of redemption through a character of Algerian origin, without his cultural background being the subject of the film. A real hero who will do whatever it takes to save his family.”

Nassim Lyes speaks on the fights in the film; “I learned the previz method from Xavier, Jude Poyer, and Olivier Sa. You need to be very precise because you need to perfect your moves down to the millimeter. It’s very hard to do, very intense, not least because of the scene splices. In the lift scene, you might think it’s a continuous take, but in fact there are 70 different shots. But that’s how unforgettable scenes are made. There was only one stunt I didn’t do myself, because we didn’t have time… And I busted my ankle in the last shot, at the very end of filming. It was crazy! But when you’re making an action film like this, something’s bound to get broken, you have to give it your all.”

Born in Nimes, Nassim Lyes, also known as Nassim Si Ahmed, is the youngest of four siblings. He studied law for a year but gave up to try his luck as an actor in Paris. Nassim made a name for himself by winning in 2009 the French Junior Kickboxing Championship, 67 kilos category.

Cast includes, Nassim Lyes, Olivier Gourmet, Vithaya Pansringarm, Loryn Nounay, and Chananticha Chaipa.

Check Out The Exciting Trailer!