Variety Review: Samuel L. Jackson and Renny Harlin’s 'The Beast' Fails to Recreate 90s Action Magic
Variety critic Katie Walsh reviews the new action film 'The Beast,' marking the reunion of Samuel L. Jackson and director Renny Harlin. The film, which runs for 99 minutes, stars Jackson as President Oscar Palladin, who must survive a global terrorist attack by driving a high-tech, armored vehicle. Walsh describes the movie as a 'subpar actioner' that fails to match the quality of their previous collaborations, 'The Long Kiss Goodnight' and 'Deep Blue Sea.' She criticizes the script by Umair Aleem for being a 'geezer teaser' that relies heavily on Jackson’s dialogue and profanity, while noting the visual effects are 'chintzy.' The review highlights that the film feels like a video game with no sense of geography, and concludes that the reunion lacks the campy fun of their earlier work.
Key points
- Samuel L. Jackson stars as U.S. President Oscar Palladin in 'The Beast,' directed by Renny Harlin.
- The plot involves Palladin surviving a terrorist attack by driving a high-tech, armored vehicle called 'The Beast.'
- Variety critic Katie Walsh rates the film as a 'subpar actioner' that falls below the standard of their previous collaborations.
- The film is criticized for its 'chintzy' visual effects and a script that relies heavily on Jackson’s dialogue and profanity.
- The movie is described as feeling like a video game with no sense of geography or play, unlike their earlier work 'The Long Kiss Goodnight.'
- The film has a 99-minute runtime and an R rating, produced by Aura Entertainment and Unified Pictures.
Background
Samuel L. Jackson and Renny Harlin previously collaborated on the 1990s action films 'The Long Kiss Goodnight' and 'Deep Blue Sea,' which are cited in the review as benchmarks for the quality of their earlier work. Jackson has recently been active in other projects, including a biopic about Michael Jackson and a public appearance at the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in September 2026. The review of 'The Beast' is part of a broader trend of action films released in 2026, including 'Digger' and 'Verity,' which were noted for their low quality in the same review.
Why it matters
The review of 'The Beast' highlights the challenges faced by veteran actors and directors in the current action film market, where high-concept premises and star power may not be enough to ensure quality. The criticism of the film's visual effects and script suggests a decline in the standards of action movies, particularly those relying on nostalgia and star power. The film's reception may impact the future collaborations of Jackson and Harlin, as well as the careers of the writer and producers involved.
What to watch
The film 'The Beast' is set to release in theaters, and its reception may influence the future projects of Samuel L. Jackson, Renny Harlin, and the writer Umair Aleem. The review may also impact the marketing and distribution of the film, as well as the careers of the other cast and crew members involved. The film's performance at the box office will be a key indicator of its success, and may influence the future of action movies in the 2020s.
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