WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for Havoc.

Tom Hardy's Walker in Gareth Evans' latest action thriller film unnamed city in Havoc, he is mostly a one-man army who must delicately balance the line between avenging Officer Cortez, who was crushed by a washing machine at the beginning of Havoc, and finding Lawrence Beaumont's son, Charlie.

Walker's actions throughout Havoc prove that his loyalty lies more with Beaumont than it does with his police force, which makes him a traitor in some ways. Although Vincent's hands aren't clean, especially since he was the one who killed the undercover cop after Walker accidentally injured him, not knowing he was one of them, Vincent and his colleagues, Jake and Hayes, are technically in the right as they search for those responsible for putting Cortez in the ICU. Mia and Charlie, Beaumont's estranged son, are partly responsible for what happened to Cortez because their partners, Wes and Johnny, were the ones who threw the washing machine.

Walker's History Of Corruption Before The Events Of Havoc Explained

Walker Used To Be A Part Of Vincent's Illegal Drug Intercepting Missions

The beginning and the end of Havoc take place in the same location, Walker's cabin/fishing shack, where he keeps his darkest secrets hidden. This is where Walker apparently disposed of the undercover cop's body in an empty gasoline barrel, or simply discarded the barrel that he and Vincent used to burn down the warehouse with the cop's body in it. Either way, the cabin represents the physical manifestation of Walker's crimes and the ghosts of his past that haunt him. There's no question that Walker has historically abused his badge and has even broken the law to get a leg up in the corrupt city.

Walker has a wife and daughter whom he doesn't get to spend much time with. Although it's not explicitly stated in Havoc, it's safe to assume that Walker has not been a moralistic cop like Ellie for quite some time, if ever at all. He used to work with Vincent on off-the-books missions that seemed to have nothing to do with police work whatsoever. Given Vincent's past working with the traitorous Ching of the Triad gang, it seems like Walker used to participate in illegal activities, such as intercepting drug shipments. All this was done for profit rather than justice, making Walker and Vincent both crooked cops with self-serving interests.

Why Walker Helps Beamount Find Charlie

He Wants To Get Beaumont Out Of The City For Good

Lawrence Beaumont (Forest Whitaker) with a surprised expression in Havoc

Image via Netflix

Lawrence Beaumont is a prominent yet corrupt mayoral candidate who has done many favors for a variety of people, especially cops, in the unnamed city in Havoc. While it's not explicitly made clear what these favors entail, it is clear that Walker has more of a distinct sense of loyalty to Beaumont than to his fellow cops, primarily because he wants to get out of his back-and-forth arrangement with Beaumont. Somehow, Beaumont knows about what Walker did to that undercover cop, which he uses as leverage, but Walker also has dirt on Beaumont, saying that he blackmailed the District Attorney to keep Beaumont out of prison.

Even though Beaumont is campaigning to become mayor of the city, and doesn't want to let Charlie's bad press affect his chances of being elected, he agrees to get Charlie and himself out of the city for good if Walker can find him.

Walker goes to Beaumont once he discovers that Charlie was involved in the death of Tsui, the leader of the Triad gang, hoping to use this to his advantage. Beaumont asks Walker what he wants in return for locating and protecting his son, and Walker simply states that he wants Beaumont out of the city. Even though Beaumont is campaigning to become mayor of the city, and doesn't want to let Charlie's bad press affect his chances of being elected, he agrees to get Charlie and himself out of the city for good if Walker can find him. It's very unlikely that Beaumont, had he not died at the end of Havoc, would have held up his end of the deal.

Why Walker Doesn't Get Along With Vincent & The Other Cops

He Never Trusted Vincent Again After The Undercover Cop Situation

Vincent (Timothy Olyphant) with a look of confusion in Havoc

Image via Netflix

Walker and Vincent were former partners who worked together on both sides of the law. Walker got promoted to be a homicide detective but doesn't trust anyone, especially Vincent, after he killed the undercover cop, which certainly hurt their relationship. If Walker didn't already have his own secret deal with Beaumont in the works, there's a chance that he would have helped Vincent and the other cops try to find Charlie and Mia, since Walker claimed to be friends with Cortez. Despite this sentiment, Walker does nothing to actually bring Charlie and Mia to justice and turns his back on his fellow cops.

Related
What Was Inside The Barrel That Walker Got Rid Of In Havoc

Tom Hardy's Walker pushes off a mysterious unmarked barrel at the beginning of Havoc that has a direct connection with his dark and corrupt past.

That said, Walker is a lone wolf in his police department who likely wouldn't have wanted to work with Vincent anyway after what happened with the undercover cop. Even though Vincent pulled the trigger, Walker was still responsible for assaulting him with a deadly weapon and gravely injuring him. One might think that this shared secret would bring Walker and Vincent closer together but instead, Walker keeps his distance from Vincent as much as possible. Still, there's something to say about Walker's lack of moral fiber for not making it his top priority to avenge Cortez and protect his assailants.

Did Walker Plan To Turn Himself In At The End Of Havoc?

His Guilt Finally Catches Up With Him & Saves Ellie From Becoming Corrupt

Walker (Tom Hardy) analyzing the crime scene in Havoc

Image via Netflix

Walker has a moment of clarity when he becomes the last man standing at the end of Havoc after killing Vincent. Even though Walker had been able to justify his past actions throughout the film, his ghosts catch up with him, and he feels the need to be punished for his crimes. He tells Ellie, the one good cop in Havoc, to arrest him to save her from becoming corrupt like him. He also doesn't want Ellie to give his daughter her Christmas gift because he knows it will ruin her Christmas.

Related
Who The Triads Are In Havoc & Why They Have So Much Power

The Triads are a fierce organization and the primary antagonistic force in Tom Hardy and Gareth Evans' action thriller Havoc, who have real origins.

Walker's decision to turn himself in only arises after the death of Vincent, Beaumont, and many other characters in Havoc. Even though he essentially has a clean slate after his darkest secret died with Vincent and Beaumont, the overwhelming sense of guilt consumes him, even though he will likely only be charged with killing Vincent. That said, Ellie could easily cover for him and claim that Vincent was killed by a Triad member. Doing so, however, would force her to sacrifice her honor for Walker, who arguably doesn't deserve a second chance after the events of Havoc.

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Havoc
Release Date
April 24, 2025
Runtime
105 minutes
Director
Gareth Evans
  • Headshot Of Tom Hardy In The Premiere Of The Bikeriders
    Walker
  • Headshot Of Forest Whitaker
    Forest Whitaker
    Lawrence Beaumont

WHERE TO WATCH

Streaming

Writers
Gareth Evans
Producers
Tom Hardy, Ed Talfan, Aram Tertzakian