and based on a William Mastrosimone play entitled “Nanawatai”. Also known as “The Beast of War”.
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Last month while flipping through TV channels late at night, I decided to watch an older movie that turned out to be pretty darned good. It’s called “The Beast”, made in 1988. (Do not confuse this movie with a similar title made-for-TV featuring a rampaging squid that terrorizes a New England fishing community!) THIS version of “The Beast” (also know as “The Beast of War”) is about a Russian tank and its crew who — after decimating an Afghan village in a rather gruesome attack during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan — escape into the surrounding dessert. The tank makes a wrong turn however, ultimately trapping the crew in a rambling dead-end canyon.
Hold on to your hats. The tale unfolds quickly as a band of vengeful Afghan rebels begin to play a deadly mongoose-and-cobra game with the wayward tank and its dwindling crew.
The tank’s psychotic commander is played by George Dzungza (TV’s 1990-1991 overweight “Detective Sergeant Max Greevey” in the first season of “Law & Order”). Dzungza’s performance goes beyond outstanding.
As I chomped popcorn and watched the tale develop, I could not help drawing wonderfully classical parallels to Hermann Melville’s infamous Captain Ahab character in “Moby Dick”, as well as the Philip Francis Queeg character played by Humphrey Bogart in “The Caine Mutiny”.
A must-see for serious movie enthusiasts. “The Beast” is not for children! Watch or rent this one if you get the chance.
Dear Tim,
But I LIKE psychotic squids wasting sleepy New England backwaters!
My local library does not have it and perhaps they saw your stricture about “not for children!” and reconsidered their anticipated choice.
Surprising since you should see some of the filth they do order.
The good burghers of Ottawa sometimes get into an absolute fit of righteous indignation about their choices.
Don’t you just LOVE inflaming fanatics, agenda-ised persons, and other killjoys to our quiet enjoyment of the weird, the wonderful, and the off-beat?
I suppose this is yet another of your faves that I will have to find in some dusty remainder bins at The Turning Point here.
Timothy from Canada
Thanks Tim,
I found it listed on http://www.lovefilm.com here in UK under “The Beast” not “The Beast of War”. looking forward to viewing it when my rental firm supplies it.
John Leeds UK.
It’s difficult “recommending” a film to anyone, moreover someone you don’t know. Nevertheless, I think it is a fine one. (Not that I’m saying I don’t know you, John. You’ve been with us for a long time.)