Movie Review: Take Over (2025)
“Control is an illusion—until someone takes it for real.”
In an age of cyber dominance and digital warfare, Take Over (2025) arrives as a sleek, high-stakes action thriller that taps directly into our worst technological fears. Directed by David Leitch (Atomic Blonde, Bullet Train), the film combines breakneck pacing with timely social commentary, creating a cinematic ride that is both thrilling and unsettlingly plausible.
The story follows Ava Reyes (played by Zendaya), a brilliant but reclusive ethical hacker who uncovers a global conspiracy involving an AI program capable of taking control of financial systems, defense networks—and even human minds. When her identity is exposed, Ava is targeted by both government agents and rogue corporations. Forced to go on the run, she must team up with a former black ops agent (John Boyega) who has secrets of his own.
The action is tense and inventive. From silent chases through neon-lit cities to nerve-racking hacks executed mid-car pursuit, Take Over keeps you on edge. A standout sequence involves Ava hijacking a swarm of drones in real-time during a high-rise infiltration. The choreography of digital warfare and physical combat blends seamlessly, pushing the genre forward.
What elevates the film beyond a standard action flick is its thematic core. Take Over dives deep into the implications of surveillance, data privacy, and the ethical boundaries of artificial intelligence. The villain, a disillusioned tech mogul played chillingly by Cillian Murphy, believes humanity must be ruled by algorithmic perfection—and he’s frighteningly convincing.
Zendaya carries the film with a grounded, fierce performance that balances intellect and vulnerability. Boyega adds depth as the muscle with a conscience, while Murphy steals every scene he’s in with icy precision. The ending leaves the door open for future stories, but gives this chapter a satisfying, provocative conclusion.
Final Verdict: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
Take Over (2025) is a stylish, fast-paced techno-thriller that’s as intelligent as it is explosive. In a world increasingly run by code, it asks the one question we all fear: who really has control?
