Tuesday, April 07, 2026
Beast
Former Mixed Martial Arts fighter & legend, Patton James (Daniel MacPherson) is forced out of retirement & returns to the cage after 10 years to help his younger brother. A slow beginning sets up the story & characters in this classic underdog sports film scenario. All of the pieces are carefully crafted to lead to the final climatic fight scenes. The parts are almost too perfectly aligned telegraphing the inevitable conclusion. The villain, Xavier Grau, is set up for the boos & hisses. Our hopes are manipulated to root for the struggling hero. His friends & family are supporting him all the way. Tragedy will strike forcing the showdown to occur. If you are unfamiliar with MMA fights, they are intense & brutal. This film does not pull any punches. It can be hard to watch for some to view such violence. Russel Crowe & Luke Hemsworth have small supporting roles. Crowe likely provided more impact as a writer & producer. Is this a story about revenge or redemption?
Alien gives it 2½ “If I️ can breathe, I️ can think, & then I️ can win” stars out of 4.
