ECHO 8: BEYOND Review: Maria Tran Strikes Back In A Modestly Upbeat Indie Action Finale Strictly For The Initiated
The success of film directing pair Maria Tran and Takashi Hara’s 2023 thriller, Echo 8, is now ready to accommodate indie action fans with back-to-back sequels now hitting select screening events from now through the new year. Up first on my end is Echo 8: Beyond, which returns lead actress Tran in the title role along with a mix of returning as well as some new cast members for the saga’s continuation.
First and foremost is the how of it all, stemming from the first film in which our heroine finds herself battling her way out of the dark auspices of the killer organization known as Zodiac, led by ominpresent and sinister floating computer head Z12 (Mike Leeder). The fallout from here coincides additionally with the franchise’s upcoming prequel, Five By Five, which I’ll gladly analyze when I can.
Thus, we find our hero, otherwise known as Anna (Tran), hiding under the radar within the homeless confines of Western Sydney as she keeps mobile to strategize against Zodiac’s killer best as they try to hunt her down. Her latest scrimmage soon sends her back on the run before suddenly befriending Sheila (Ashley Avci), who herself is evading a local gang pursuant to a mysterious thumbdrive on her person.
The two seek refuge at a local motel where Anna and Shiela soon cross paths with Yang (Damien Sato) – a bubble tea barista who moonlights as a private investigator – whose latest investigation pertains to a longstanding string of cases involving missing children. Between a mysterious bomb threat at a charity gala and the involvement of a local up-and-coming politician named Osman (George Basha), Anna and Shiela venture to find out to learn more about Zodiac’s connection to the two, in addition to dodging the misgivings of underworld crime boss Mercado (Fellino Dolloso), as well as a mysterious assassin (Kimberly Vo) with her own score to settle.
Echo 8: Beyond antes up its more lighthearted and comedic moments much more than its predecessor, making good on its action comedy pitch; The film tends to feel more richer when Anna is brought back into focus to follow her comparatively darker journey. Co-star Avci takes the wheel on this end for most of the way as the perky and upbeat Shiela serving as the pulse to Anna’s amiable, albeit deadpan expressions, while Sato is just as dashing as he was in the first film in the role of Yang with a greater presence this time around.
There is a prevalence of tonal dissonance throughout the film, and some of the comedy, and even a few of the action beats fall flat as a result. The film does make up for some of this in several areas with scenes that pay a good deal of tribute to big names and select IP (I’m inclined to believe Tran is as much of a Tom Cruise fan as others in this regard), while the larger rivalry unfolds between Anna and Vo’s character, whose occupation lies with a rival organization.
Other aspects like CG and ADR felt hindering, particularly with the latter while observing the drama and acting along the way. It’s an easy nitpick for any critic depending on where you’ve set the bar for indie action enjoyment, and here it’s more unavoidable than preferred, and I did learn that the filmmakers are making some adjustments in this matter as of this post. The action, assembled by Tran and Hara and fight choreographer Adrian Castro lends for a modest show of the actors involved with some energizing moments to keep the flow going.
Made for $18,000 (USD) through crowdfunding and community support and filmed in twenty five days, an effort like Echo 8: Beyond comes solely for those who are already engaged and invested, both in independent film, as well as Tran and Hara’s ascension as DIY stewards in their niche. The film does falter heftly in its assembly from time to time and won’t check the boxes for all avid fans of female-fronted spectacles of late. Still, it’s a humble work that executes aptly and admirably enough to warrant interest in a hardcore indie action IP with a touch of romance, some heart, and a poignant finale to sign things off.
Additionally, and even inadvertently, Echo 8: Beyond, stands symbolic as a work of inclusivity and progression, and it’s not difficult to spot the tone and tambre of right-wing malfeasance crawling into the dialogue about the film or its team with brouhaha over ‘wokeness’. That kind of approach just shows how one-sided the rhetoric is compared to the volume on similar, more oppositional projects, which also exclaims exactly how political art is in the first place. Conclusively, it also tells us that Tran and Hara are right where they belong: In the director’s chair and bothering those who deserve it, all while entertaining everyone else.
Producing Team: Robert Nguyen, Eddie Niravong, Ravindra Singh, Erin Wen Ai Chew, Matt Nicol, Alan Suy, Nha Hoang Tang, Barry Gamba, Mick Bozza, Wayne D. Burdette Jr., Jeffrey J. Ellen, Zach Fitzgerald, Chavelli Gutierrez, Alex Haddad, Sara Elizabeth Joyce, Shane Kosugi, Mike Leeder, Dang Lieu, Frank D. Ciotti, Robert Luxford, Corey Miller-McLain, Ana Thu Nguyen, Ripley Rosaben Ortiz, Albin Sallansonnet, Peter Tadros, James Huy Vuong, Dustin Gray, Philippe Deseck, John Tran, Lynna Ho, Paul Cavallo, Jennifer D. Woods, Barry Vonk, Takashi Hara & Elizabeth H. Vu
Writer
Elizabeth H. Vu
Director of Photography
Adam McPhilbin, Maria Tran, Takashi Hara
Director
Maria Tran, Takashi Hara
Editor
Maria Tran, Takashi Hara, Adrian Castro
Production Designer
Maria Tran
Cast
Maria Tran, Ashley Avci, Damien Sato, George Basha, Kimberley Vo, Alexander W Hunter, Xiang Ma
Native New Yorker. Been writing for a long time now, and I enjoy what I do. Be nice to me!
