Duration : 109 Min
The Waterworld director teams up with playwright William Mastrosimone to tell the story of a Russian tank lost during the war in Afghanistan. This doesn't sound like a normal action movie, does it? Despite its clumsy pedigree, The Beast is a satisfying action story that unfortunately never received a wide release. When Afghan insurgents find the lone tanker lost in the high desert, a cat-and-mouse chase with breathtaking emotional precision. The crew of the Russian tank is also at war with itself as the friendly driver disputes the brutal tactics of his commander. This visceral action drama was adapted from a theatrical stage, but remains firmly rooted in the war action genre. The second film of director Kevin Reynolds shows his aggressive camera that was later used, less successfully, in Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves. Made directly after the war in Afghanistan, the film was a difficult sell in the late 1980s, since the Russians speak English (and the Afghans their native dialect), the viewer is uncomfortably attached to these unpopular attackers. However, the film resonates with sweat and battle toil, with Patric bringing a more dramatic edge to the role than is usually found in cinematic action heroes.
