BEAST Review: Dan MacPherson And Bren Foster Go To War In Tyler Atkins’ New MMA Thriller
Beast opens in theaters on April 10.
Lionsgate and Grindstone recently trickled out a cleverly-selected clip from Tyler Atkins’ new movie, Beast, teasing an exciting build-up to what felt like one of the film’s storied fights which are set against the backdrop of MMA’s famed ONE Championship, in a film that spans the locales of Bangkok and New South Wales. The clip is a brilliant choice moment that alludes to the characters we see portrayed by Dan MacPherson and Russell Crowe in the film’s delivery of a man’s quest for victory in the notable sportfighting competition. This is also to speak highly of the substantive and compelling writing and direction on Beast in its execution from what presumptively comes across as a run of the mill underdog tale that turns into something much more vital across its runtime.
To the story at hand, we meet Patton (MacPherson), an ex-fighter and ex-con who now works on a fishing trawler, and is married to the beautiful Luciana (Kelly Gale) with a young daughter amid their growing family. Patton’s life is as simple as it gets, that is, if you obscure the past that got him here, while it’s safe to say that – in at least this instance – moving on from the past is way easier said than done. Having caught young brother and fellow fight progeny Malon (Mojean Aria) squaring up in a televised event against contender Xavier Grau (Bren Foster), in no uncertain terms is Patton suddenly faced with a harrowing slew of crises involving Malon’s debts, a tempting offer by Grau’s weasley manager Gabriel (Luke Hemsworth), and a bittersweet reunion with ex-trainer, Sammy (Crowe).
What follows is a brutal saga for Patton as he re-enters the fight game in an effort to both pay off Malon’s debts, as well as provide for his family, even if it means reassuring Luciana under false pretenses. To this, it also means initiating a short-term training regimen with the help Sammy’s daughter and ex-fighter, Rose (Amy Shark), and for that matter, doing whatever it takes to finally confront his past, repair his broken relationship with Malon and Sammy, and undo years of damage left in his wake as Patton’s road back to the octagon is paved with more blood, sweat, tragic uncertainty, and an age-old grudge that will serve as a testament to just who the better man really is when the gloves are on and the bell is rung.
A tough-as-nails script by Crowe and screenwriter David Frigerio sets the stage in Beast for some amazing drama among the cast. MacPherson and Crowe are at their strongest from start to finish in core moments that explore their prospective history and the residual corrosion of their relationship years later, revealing the layers of invariable pain and unanswered questions that lay clear the stakes for why things are the way they are and how they got there. Hemsworth is the perfect antagonist in a suit whose weasley moneyman is all about putting on airs just to get his bag; Interestingly, there’s a pivotal moment in which his character disappears after a major catastrophe, contributing to an otherwise fitting exit that clears the way for a proper recapitulation with the stakes high enough.
I love that there’s more prudent focus on the relationship between Patton and Malon as well. The trailer doesn’t tease a whole lot there, which leaves plenty to take in for the viewer as the story takes its course. It’s also a great addendum to the circumstances our protagonist is faced with, cementing in the backdrop the paramount role Lucinda plays as the wife who least expects her husband to be secretive. Again, this speaks amply to the crucial dialogue Patton shares with Sammy later in the film that contributes some of the conditional, albeit much-needed progress our lead needs in his growth.
Incumbent in the film’s duration is the obligatory action, suited to the needs of the film’s caliber as an MMA drama coming off the proximity of co-star Foster’s latest hits with films like Life After Fighting and Luke LaFontaine’s directorial debut, Mexicali. Foster’s sinister, blonde-haired, American-accented Grau calls for a villain that certainly adds something different to the roster of characters Foster’s played on screen, bringing a little something different to a role that, expectedly, and is equally fleshed out by explosive screenfighting caliber, and moxie as a fight choreographer who can direct other actors. MacPherson surely knows his part in this aspect, and plays it excellently on all fronts from the training sequences to the action. The same can also be said for co-star George Burgess who plays the supporting role of Neal, a relative pacifist – that is – with a twist.
There are moments early on where the cinematography makes the action feel a little less engaging than preferred. To be fair, those scenes are generally introductory and bode plenty to foreshadow things as our protagonist is forced to see things through on his end. The result is an otherwise fairly-executed narrative setup that allows for the intensity of the action to escalate with camerawork and even action direction, from the techniques, strikes, clinches and fleeting character moments to the pulsating sound and score on which the scenes are cemented. Foster is especially exceptional when he chucks out the kind of signature kick combos that ought to leave TKD fans drooling.
It’s all complimentary to how cool MacPherson, Foster and the rest of the involved cast are to watch, as well as Atkins in his direction, convincing me enough to asset that Beast delivers in all the areas I would expect it to. I’ve left out some incremental bits in this analysis that iterate some story moments that punctuate select layers and aspects of the film’s characterization, but I’m positive this shouldn’t take much away from your enjoyment. Chalk Beast up as a win for Atkins and his team with a moving MMA drama that rises to the occasion, seethes with every glare, and punishes with every blow.
Native New Yorker. Been writing for a long time now, and I enjoy what I do. Be nice to me!
