Director Renny Harlin reunites with the iconic Samuel L. Jackson for the fourth time in the action film “The Beast”, produced by Aura Entertainment. Written by Umair Aleem, the movie features Jackson as the President of the United States.
When a militia of unidentified hostiles launches a coup against the country, the President is forced to take control of the presidential limousine and unlock *The Beast’s* highly classified offensive capabilities. His mission is to save his injured Secret Service agent, reunite with his wife, and prevent the situation from spiraling into a global catastrophe.
Although Harlin has experienced his share of less successful projects, I’ve been a fan of his work since his second feature, “A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master”. What I have always appreciated about Harlin’s style is his ability to create genre films that are loud, aggressive, and fast-paced.
When “The Beast” opened with an action sequence that looked overly synthetic and heavily reliant on CGI, I was ready to dismiss it. However, once the initial attack ends, Harlin wisely taps into Jackson’s charisma and allows the film to become far more entertaining.
In contrast to his role as a president in the 2014 film “Big Game”, where he is the one being rescued, Jackson firmly takes on the role of hero here. He spends much of the film delivering sharp dialogue while driving the limo and supporting his injured Secret Service agent, played by Joel Kinnaman.
The exchanges between Jackson and Kinnaman keep the film from getting bogged down in political commentary, letting it focus on action and character. Jackson plays to his strengths, which works in the film’s favor. With a lesser actor, the material might collapse under its own absurdity, but Jackson elevates it through sheer presence and timing.
A third-act sequence requires viewers to suspend disbelief more than expected, but by that point, the film has already established the kind of ride it wants to be.
On the other hand, Joel Kinnaman feels somewhat underutilized. Since making a name for himself with “Easy Money”, Hollywood has often typecast him as variations of the same hardened action persona, and “The Beast” doesn’t give him much room to stretch.
While he shares natural chemistry with Jackson, the role itself is mostly reactive. I found myself wishing the screenplay had either given Kinnaman a more formidable adversarial role or created a Secret Service character with a stronger arc. Making the agent less experienced could have added emotional stakes by forcing Jackson’s President to guide someone facing real combat for the first time.
Guy Burnet fares better as the primary antagonist. He brings enough physical menace to the role, particularly during the film’s hand-to-hand action, even if the character remains fairly one-dimensional.
Despite its clichés, “The Beast” understands its assignment. Harlin delivers the kind of uncomplicated action vehicle that has defined much of his career. At the same time, Jackson supplies enough charisma to keep the film engaging, even when the screenplay stalls.
For fans of either man, that may be enough.
Final Grade: C+
“The Beast” roars into theaters on October 9th.
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