Veteran Finnish filmmaker Renny Harlin recently returned to the historic island of Malta, a location deeply intertwined with his cinematic journey, to participate in the Mediterrane Film Festival. His visit not only highlighted the screening of his latest shark thriller, Deep Water, starring Aaron Eckhart and Ben Kingsley, but also served as a poignant reminder of his 1995 action epic, Cutthroat Island, which initially brought him to the Mediterranean archipelago. Harlin’s presence underscored Malta’s growing prominence as a global filmmaking hub, a reputation solidified by its role in blockbuster productions ranging from Ridley Scott’s Gladiator to the expansive Jurassic Park franchise.
During a compelling masterclass conversation on directing, held at the festival hub in Valletta, Harlin expressed profound enthusiasm for the island. "Malta is the best-kept secret," Harlin remarked to Collider’s Steven Weintraub, captivating a capacity crowd. "People don’t realize how incredible this place is." This sentiment resonates deeply within the international film community, which has increasingly recognized Malta’s diverse landscapes, ancient architecture, and strategic location as invaluable assets for cinematic storytelling.
Malta: A Storied Canvas for Global Cinema
Malta’s allure for filmmakers is not a recent phenomenon. Its rich history as a crossroads of civilizations, combined with its stunning natural beauty, has made it a favored backdrop for cinematic narratives for over a century. From early Hollywood epics to modern blockbusters, the island has seamlessly transformed into ancient Rome, biblical lands, war-torn cities, and exotic locales. Its strategic position in the Mediterranean, offering consistent sunshine and diverse topographical features within a compact area, provides logistical advantages that few other locations can match.
The government, through the Malta Film Commission, has actively fostered this environment by offering attractive financial incentives, including generous cash rebates and tax credits, making it a highly competitive destination for international productions. This proactive approach has drawn a multitude of high-profile projects, creating a robust local infrastructure of skilled crew, equipment rental services, and post-production facilities. Harlin’s initial foray with Cutthroat Island, though a box office disappointment at the time, was a testament to the island’s capacity to host large-scale, ambitious productions, requiring extensive set builds and intricate logistical coordination. The film, a swashbuckling pirate adventure, made extensive use of Malta’s coastal areas and historical fortifications, demonstrating the island’s versatility.
The Mediterrane Film Festival: A Platform for Connection and Vision
Harlin’s return coincided with the Mediterrane Film Festival, an increasingly significant event on the international cinematic calendar. Launched with the vision of becoming a bridge between European, North African, and Middle Eastern film cultures, the festival aims to celebrate storytelling, foster collaboration, and promote Malta as a center for creative exchange. By screening films like Deep Water and hosting industry luminaries such as Harlin, the festival provides invaluable opportunities for emerging talent, industry professionals, and film enthusiasts to engage with contemporary cinema and learn from seasoned veterans.
The masterclass with Steven Weintraub offered a comprehensive retrospective of Harlin’s extensive career, from his early works to his current projects. Known for his robust action sequences and often high-stakes narratives, Harlin has carved a niche in Hollywood with films that blend spectacle with character-driven plots. His conversation delved into the intricacies of directing, the challenges of large-scale productions, and the evolving landscape of the film industry, offering insights that were eagerly absorbed by the attending audience. The festival’s ability to attract such prominent figures underscores its growing influence and its success in positioning Malta as a vibrant cultural and industrial hub for cinema.
"The Beast": A High-Stakes Thriller on the Horizon
The discussion culminated with an eagerly anticipated preview of Harlin’s upcoming release, The Beast, slated for an October release. This film promises to be a gripping action-thriller, featuring a formidable cast led by Samuel L. Jackson and Joel Kinnaman. Penned by Umair Aleem, the narrative thrusts Samuel L. Jackson into the role of a U.S. president who finds himself trapped within his heavily armored presidential limousine – famously dubbed "the Beast" – amidst a meticulously coordinated coup by a hostile militia. The plot intensifies as the president must rapidly uncover the vehicle’s top-secret offensive capabilities and fight his way to safety, not just for his own survival but for the stability of his nation.
Harlin described The Beast as a "really unusual movie and quite a brilliant script," hinting at its unique premise and intense execution. He revealed that the film immediately plunges audiences into a monumental action sequence from its opening moments. "The biggest action scene you’ve ever seen" unfolds as the lights dim, immersing viewers in a world summit, akin to a G7 meeting, abruptly shattered by a "humongous terrorist attack." The ambiguity of the antagonists, whose nationality or motives are intentionally left vague, heightens the sense of universal peril. The immediate objective becomes the extraction of President Jackson into the fortified "Beast," his bulletproof and explosion-proof sanctuary, before he is assassinated. This initial escape sets off a chain of events, establishing a relentless pace that promises to keep audiences on the edge of their seats.
A Collaborative Legacy: Harlin and Jackson
The Beast marks the fourth collaboration between Renny Harlin and the iconic Samuel L. Jackson, a partnership that has yielded several memorable genre films. Their shared history began with the 1996 action-thriller The Long Kiss Goodnight, celebrated for its dynamic action and strong female lead. This was followed by the commercially successful 1999 sci-fi horror film Deep Blue Sea, which showcased Jackson in a pivotal, albeit tragically short-lived, role. Their most recent prior collaboration was the 2007 crime thriller Cleaner. This recurring professional relationship speaks volumes about the mutual respect and creative synergy between the director and the actor, enabling them to consistently deliver high-octane entertainment.
In The Beast, Jackson’s character is not alone in his ordeal. He is joined by a "badly wounded" Secret Service agent, portrayed by Joel Kinnaman. Harlin highlighted the dynamic between the two characters, stating, "It’s the story of these two guys in a car trying to survive, and I dare to say that it’s a very exciting movie, a very action-packed movie and a very unusual movie that has a very beautiful, happy ending." This intimate, confined-space thriller aspect, focusing on the human element amidst extreme peril, adds another layer of intrigue to the film’s premise.
Joel Kinnaman’s Transformative Performance
Harlin expressed particular excitement about Joel Kinnaman’s performance in The Beast, predicting it will be a career-defining moment for the actor. "I’d like to think that this movie is really going to make Joel’s career," Harlin asserted. Kinnaman, a veteran actor with an impressive and diverse filmography including critically acclaimed television series like For All Mankind and House of Cards, as well as major film roles in The Suicide Squad, Silent Night, and Altered Carbon, is poised to deliver a performance that Harlin believes will "stun" audiences. This endorsement from a director of Harlin’s experience suggests a portrayal of depth and intensity that transcends typical action heroics, potentially elevating Kinnaman’s status in Hollywood. His character’s vulnerability, combined with the necessity to operate under extreme duress, offers a compelling challenge that Kinnaman appears to have embraced fully.
The Indomitable "Beast": A Character in Itself
Central to the film’s premise is the presidential limousine itself, affectionately known as "the Beast." Harlin clearly relished the opportunity to explore and expand upon the capabilities of this iconic vehicle. He described it as "indestructible," a veritable fortress on wheels designed to withstand the most extreme threats. "No matter what missiles they send its way, they can’t destroy the car. They just keep going," Harlin explained.
Beyond its impenetrable defenses, Harlin’s depiction of the Beast introduces a layer of speculative, yet plausible, offensive weaponry. "It has some weapons that we’ll never know [about]. I don’t think anybody can prove whether it has these weapons or not, but this one does," he teased. This element transforms the limousine from a mere transport vehicle into a self-contained combat unit. The narrative challenge arises from the president’s unfamiliarity with these advanced systems. Having only ever "smoked a cigar in the back of the car," he is forced to navigate a maze of computer panels and weaponry without the guidance of headquarters, which have been compromised. This creates an "incredible survival story," where the protagonist must not only evade attackers but also rapidly master the complex technology at his disposal. The dynamic between Jackson’s president and Kinnaman’s wounded Secret Service agent, confined within this high-tech mobile bunker, forms the emotional core of this intense survival tale.
Broader Implications for Malta’s Film Industry
Renny Harlin’s enthusiastic remarks about Malta, coupled with the detailed preview of The Beast, carry significant implications for the island’s film industry. Such endorsements from seasoned Hollywood professionals bolster Malta’s reputation and attract further international investment. The presence of major figures like Harlin at events such as the Mediterrane Film Festival also serves to inspire local talent and strengthen the domestic film ecosystem. By showcasing its capabilities, Malta continues to solidify its position not merely as a picturesque location but as a fully-fledged, capable production hub offering a comprehensive range of services and a highly supportive environment for filmmakers from around the globe.
As The Beast prepares for its global release, the discussion surrounding it, initiated in the vibrant setting of the Mediterrane Film Festival, highlights the enduring power of cinematic collaboration and the unique appeal of locations like Malta. Harlin’s vision for a thrilling, character-driven action film, set against a backdrop of global crisis, promises to be a memorable addition to his filmography, further cementing his legacy as a master of the genre, while simultaneously shining a spotlight on the Mediterranean gem that continues to captivate filmmakers worldwide.
