Movie Review: ‘The Beast’ And Interview With Director Renny Harlin

Tweet
By James Lindorf
Check out the interview below.

James Madigan is best known for directing last year’s over-the-top action film “Fight or Flight,” starring Josh Hartnett. When he had to step down from his latest project, it opened the door for Renny Harlin, the Finnish filmmaker known for directing films such as “Die Hard 2,” “Cliffhanger,” and “Deep Blue Sea,” to step into the directing chair. “The Beast” was written by Umair Aleem (Kate) and is Harlin’s third release this year in his third genre. “The Beast” opens in limited theaters October 9th through Aura Entertainment.

When unidentified hostiles coordinate a coup against the world’s leaders, the President of the United States (Samuel L. Jackson) and Secret Service agent Taft (Joel Kinnaman) find themselves on the run inside the most secure presidential vehicle ever built. Cut off from his wife and from the people who are supposed to protect him, the President has to figure out what the car can do and how to get home. The supporting cast includes Colin Morgan as the voice of command on the radio, Guy Burnet as the face of the attackers, and LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Jackson’s real-life spouse, as the First Lady.

Jackson is the Samuel L. Jackson you know and love, though it takes longer than usual to get to the trademark line because the movie makes a joke of it between him and Kinnaman. He is tough, confident, funny, and complex, and he’s not afraid to rattle off a lot of dialogue. He and Kinnaman make a good duo, both talented actors, but there is an imbalance in how they are written. Taft is injured, which makes this the President’s show when the protector should be in charge. Taft wears his heart on his sleeve, while the President has decades-old secrets rooted in grief and rage, held in check by his love for his wife. Their banter in the quiet moments is enjoyable, and the chemistry gives those conversations life. For all his impact, Kinnaman could have died trying to get into the car because Aleem isn’t interested in a plot or in giving answers; he wants to set up action set pieces and the relationship between the two characters.

The movie is really about these two, and only these two. We are told the First Lady is the reason Jackson is capable of being President, that she saved him from his darker side that came out in war. But she exists as a photograph and a one-scene voiceover. Casting Jackson’s real-life spouse is a nice touch; it just doesn’t add much. Also underdeveloped is Guy Burnet, who gets the Roy Kent treatment, here, there, and everywhere as the potential leader of the attacks, but we never know because he is given nothing to say or do but to look menacing. This isn’t a movie with clearly defined good-vs-evil elements or resolutions with tidy bows.

What it is, is a fun action movie crammed into the claustrophobic space of a car. Even if it is a larger-than-life limo with a minibar and a rail gun. The Beast is an impossible vehicle, but that is part of the fun, as it carries our duo from the city to construction sites, through tunnels, and down wide-open streets. The effects are good for the budget, and the small setting helps. Harlin keeps the action under control. Setting the tone for not providing context, the movie opens with a hailstorm of bullets already in the air in what is the most complex and best action scene in the entire film. The best scene overall is a long chase down a busy street that mixes action with an emotional beat as the President experiences the attack’s collateral damage firsthand.

The film’s structure is simple: a stationary action scene, a chase, another stop for more intense attacks, followed by another narrow escape. The cinematography keeps the low-light interior bright and colorful enough to be interesting while still feeling natural, and it changes angles and location of Taft to keep things visually engaging. The score is serviceable, doing its best to lift moments, but there are no themes to write home about. The film was shot in the Canary Islands and Madrid and feels enough like America, maybe Southern California, though nothing about the story requires it. Wherever the President goes, a protective detail and planned escape routes follow so that it could have taken place anywhere. The most direct comparison for “The Beast” is “Air Force One.” That movie’s hijacking put the President and the bad guys in the same confined space, building tension that could be paid off through action. While this one goes for pure excitement, the way it is written, it is never a question of if they will make it to the next set piece, just how.

For most viewers, streaming will be a perfect way to watch this one. The theater is for people who love “dad movies,” throwbacks to the 80s with tough guys and lots of explosions. In a way, “The Beast” is the “10 Cloverfield Lane” of action movies. An earth-changing story is happening outside, but the focus stays on two people in a small space, and how you feel about those two will decide how you feel about the movie as a whole. There are good moments and a solid variety of action scenes for a movie confined to a car, but the story can’t keep up, which holds “The Beast” to a 3 out of 5.

Rating: R (Strong Bloody Violence|Some Gore|Language)
Genre: Drama, Action, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): October 9th, 2026, Limited
Runtime: 1h 39m
Director: Renny Harlin
Producer: Keith Kjarval, John Logan Pierson, Wayne Marc Godfrey, Nicki Cortese, Robert Van Norden
Screenwriter: Umair Aleem
Distributor: Aura Entertainment
Production Co: Film 44, Unified Pictures