Beyond the Reach

The vast majority of this lean, sun-bleached thriller takes place in the Mojave Desert. There, we find Ben (Jeremy Irvine), a wilderness guide who has agreed to go on a hunting expedition with wealthy businessman Madec (Michael Douglas). But shortly after the hunt begins, Madec accidentally shoots - and kills - a local prospector. Realising that this mishap could jeopardise an ongoing business deal, Madec forces Ben to strip down and wander the desert, hoping that the harsh, unforgiving conditions will cause the young tracker to die of "natural" causes. At this point, a marked change comes over Madec, and he is suddenly transformed into a murderous, explosives-wielding sadist. The transformation isn't exactly convincing, but it plays to Douglas's strengths, and he remains highly watchable throughout, despite being lumbered with some ropey dialogue. As for the film, it starts to feel somewhat repetitive after a while, yet at the same time it does enough to earn pass marks.