When it comes to movie experiences to savour, Michael Douglas playing the badass is up there with the best of them. In Wall Street, Falling Down, The Game and even A Perfect Murder he gave masterclasses in the withering one-liner as an art form, with his expertise at conveying pent-up rage suggesting an(other) explosion was only a heartbeat away.
He's at it again in Beyond the Reach, a disappointing survival thriller that transports Douglas' unique style and slickness to the Mojave Desert.
He plays John Madec, a very rich and very obnoxious man whose life experience is that everybody has a price. The latest to be put to the test is Ben (Irvine), a young guide hired to take Madec hunting before the season has officially begun (palms have been greased in advance, naturally). While they drive deep into the Mojave there seems to be some rapport between paymaster and subordinate, but once the sun comes up the situation spirals rapidly out of control, and a battle of wits begins.
Back in the 80s, Beyond the Reach would have sat on the video shop shelf beside, say, Cohen and Tate - one of those films with a big name that somehow arrived with no fanfare but had punters curious to find out more. People today are far choosier and review-savvy, and director Jean-Baptiste Léonetti's film did nothing at the box office in the US. Indeed, it's really only one for Douglas completists and lovers of No Country for Old Men-style settings. Beautifully shot, but too far-fetched to work, despite the best efforts of, and chemistry between, the two leads.
As someone once joked about The Warriors, why didn't they just steal a car and drive back to Coney Island. After the first half-hour of Beyond the Reach you will also have a very practical solution to the onscreen predicament - time to think about working on your own script again.
Harry Guerin
