The Beast (2025): High-Stakes Action in a World on the Brink

When the presidency becomes a battlefield, heroes don’t wear capes—they carry the country

The Beast (2025) roars into theaters as a high-octane political thriller directed by Renny Harlin and written by Umair Aleem. Gone is the subtlety – in its place stands Samuel L. Jackson as the President of the United States, hoisted into a maelstrom when a rogue militia launches a sudden coup. Tasked with saving the nation, Joel Kinnaman’s Agent Taft must lead a covert rescue deep behind enemy lines. With such global stakes, The Beast promises a burn-it-down spectacle built on tension, explosions, and unwavering loyalty.

From the opening scene, the film grabs you by the throat and refuses to let go. Harlin, known for his action flair, embraces total chaos – gunfights erupt, helicopters spin, and political power shifts while Taft races against an impossible countdown. Jackson’s presidential presence is both commanding and vulnerable, a leader under siege both politically and personally. Kinnaman’s turn as the resourceful agent brings emotional weight: he’s more than a soldier—he’s the country’s last, best hope.

Though not one to dwell in political nuance, The Beast doubles as a statement piece about modern instability. The coup doesn’t happen in a vacuum—rumblings within government, ideological fractures, and personal vendettas drip through every frame. It's a world that feels perilously close to ours, where power is both fragile and easily hijacked. Even as bullets fly, the film never lets you forget: this is a battle for the soul of a nation.

Tight pacing drives the storytelling, with Harlin plumbing moments of human connection amid the carnage. When Taft shares a prayer with the president before a raid, or when a soldier sacrifices themselves for loyalty's sake, you see the cost behind the canon. Cinematographer Jacques Jouffret frames devastation with urgency—but also empathy, spotlighting the people caught in the crossfire.

The Beast may hems close to familiar territory – coups, special ops rescues, high-speed warfare – but it lands with power. With Jackson delivering gravitas, Kinnaman anchoring the heart, and Harlin leaning into kinetic madness, it’s a ride built to satisfy action fans and pulse-pounding political thriller seekers alike. By the end, one truth burns clear: when democracy teeters, it takes more than force to rebuild—it takes belief.