The Raid, an Indonesian action film, took the world by storm in 2011 with its high-octane and innovative action sequences, which many hailed as one of the greatest action films of all time. Three years later, with the sequel The Raid 2, director Gareth Evans returned to the same world of Jakarta’s underbelly with much higher ambitions (Original title: Serbuan maut 2: Berandal).
Though I didn’t get to watch the first film, the second one recently came to my attention. And, after sitting through an action-packed two hours and thirty minutes, I can surely say that this is one of the most well-executed action films I have ever seen.
I want to talk about the film in more detail in this article. So, be aware, as it will be filled with spoilers.
The Raid 2 (2014) Movie Synopsis and Plot Summary:
The story picks up after the events of the first film. In the first shot, we come to see that Jakarta gang boss Andi is captured and executed by another criminal, Bejo (Alex Abbad). Meanwhile, Rama (Iko Uwais) brings his corrupt superior, Lt. Wahyu, with him to meet Lt. Bunawar, head of an internal investigation unit. Bunawar immediately kills Wahyu.
Rama becomes shocked by this gesture. But he is assured by Bunawar that it is to keep him safe from other crooked cops. He further asks Rama to go undercover as a criminal to expose police chief Reza’s crooked dealings with the Bangun and Goto crime syndicates. Though initially reluctant, he accepts the offer after learning about Andi’s (Rama’s brother) death.
Using the pseudonym Yuda, Rama thrashes the politician’s son responsible for putting crime lord Bangun’s (Tio Pakusadewo) ambitious son Uco (Arifin Putra) in prison. For this, he is arrested and put into the same prison as Uco. In prison, Rama gains Uco’s trust by saving his life during a violent riot intended to cover up an assassination. After two years, Rama gets released from prison, and this time, Bangun takes him under his wing as a gesture of faith for saving his son’s life.
Meanwhile, he hires hit-man Prakoso (Yayan Ruhian) to assassinate another of his rivals. While all this is happening, Uco becomes frustrated with his limited position in his father’s empire. To prove his place desperately, he meets with Bejo.
Bejo shares rumors of a plot to turn Reza (Roy Marten) and others against his father. As a gift of newly formed friendship, Bejo allows Uco to kill the gang members responsible for the prison riot. Moreover, they hatch a plot to start a gang war in order to disrupt the truce between Bangun and fellow crime lord Hideaki Goto (Kenichi Endo). The ploy might allow Uco to prove his worth to his father, while Bejo takes over Goto’s territory.
Uco sets Prakoso up to be killed by the “Assassin” (Cecep Arif Rahman), Bejo’s top enforcer, and bodyguard. “The Assassin” uses his karambit to slice Prakoso’s neck, and he bleeds to death in the snow. Prakoso’s death gives Uco the motive to blame it on Goto’s gang. However, Bangun refuses to counterattack. Frustrated, Uco convinces Bejo to have his two hit-men, siblings Hammer Girl and Baseball Bat Man, kill several of Goto’s men, successfully sparking a gang war between the families.
When Bangun and Goto meet to reconcile, Uco lashes out in anger, embarrassing Bangun into conceding territory. Bangun angrily beats Uco when they return to his office. Rama is attacked and learns from Bunawar that the attackers were Reza’s corrupt cops sent after him. He is then asked to protect Uco by fellow criminal Eka.
While he is on the way to Bangun’s office, Bejo arrives with the Assassin and a mob of henchmen. Uco reveals his betrayal, kills his father, and shoots Eka. Before Bejo can shoot Eka off, Rama arrives and gives Eka a chance to escape but is subdued by the Assassin and driven away to be executed. Eka rescues Rama in a violent car chase but is critically injured in the process and reveals to Rama he is also an undercover officer.
Goto’s henchman Ryuichi informs Goto of Uco’s betrayal and that police chief Reza is meeting Bejo and Uco at a warehouse. Rama calls Bunawar, who informs him the gang war has escalated, the commissioner has been killed, and Eka is responsible for the deaths of 10 honest officers. He also informs Rama of the meeting between Reza, Bejo, and Uco. Bejo and Uco meet Reza to discuss terms against Goto.
Uco is shaken after killing his father. While giving a tip to a boy for giving him toilet paper, he discovers a bug, which Rama planted in his wallet to keep track of his whereabouts. He also notices Bejo has the same tattoo as the gang member who tried to kill him during the riot, realizing he has been used as a pawn by Bejo and Reza.
Meanwhile, Rama infiltrates the warehouse and battles Bejo’s henchmen. Approaching the hallway, he is obstructed by the same Hammer Girl and Baseball Bat Man, but he manages to kill them both. Rama then enters the kitchen, where the Assassin awaits him. As the kitchen workers leave, Rama and the Assassin have a one-on-one duel. After an intense, brutal, and bloody battle, Rama ends the Assassin using the Assassin’s karambit.
Rama finally makes his way to Bejo and disrupts the meeting. Bejo attempts to shoot Rama (managing to graze his side with a shotgun), but Uco shoots and kills Reza and Bejo. Before Uco can kill Rama as well, Rama throws a karambit at him and stabs him to death; Uco dies in his arms. Weakened and exhausted, Rama limps from the premises and encounters Goto’s son Keichi and several henchmen sent to attack the meeting.
In the last scene, we see that Bunawar is approaching the spot, and Keichi smirks as he silently offers a deal to Rama at the same time. We can’t hear exactly the offer, but in reply, Rama simply said he was done.
The Raid 2 (2014) Movie Ending, Explained:
What does it mean when Rama says “I’m Done”?
Despite its brutal, bloody, and intense content, The Raid 2 is an emotionally compelling story to watch.The narrative focuses on a man’s struggle to move forward in the search for light in this bleak world of crime. Rama, our protagonist, is a man who strives to make things right.
In the first scene, the director establishes Rama as a believer in good. He wants to bring justice in legal ways, and if he has to break this moral code, he has to have a strong reason behind it.
And as a result of his ideology, he becomes an isolated man. Rama sacrificed everything, including his wife and kid. But he is appalled when he realizes that he is surrounded by lies (Uco’s murder of his father and Bunwar’s concealment of Eka’s identity). Finally, when Rama says he is done, he means that he is really done with this life of lies and deception.
I’m not sure if he ever gets out of the violent world of crime. But the beliefs he adhered to until that point is shaken. Perhaps from that point forward, he will transform into someone else. So, in my opinion, the phrase ‘I am done’ at the end of the film represents that change.
