Beyond the Reach: A Hilariously Dark Adventure in the Mojave
Alright, folks, gather ‘round as we take a wild ride through the sun-baked landscape of “Beyond the Reach,” a film that proves that sometimes, you really should just stay home and binge-watch cat videos instead of going on a desert adventure with a rich psychopath.
Picture this: Michael Douglas, in all his grizzled glory, plays Madec, a wealthy thrill-seeker who’s basically the poster child for “money can’t buy you common sense.” He’s the kind of guy who thinks hunting in the Mojave Desert is a good idea—because what could possibly go wrong, right? He hires our young hero, Ben (Jeremy Irvine), who’s about as mature as a teenager with a new sports car, to guide him through the arid wasteland. Spoiler alert: Ben’s life is about to take a turn for the worse faster than you can say “bad decision.”
So, off they go into the desert, and you can already feel the tension building like a bad case of indigestion. Ben is all eager-eyed, dreaming of a life beyond his small-town existence, while Madec is more interested in showing off his shiny rifle and his even shinier personality. They start their adventure, and it’s not long before Madec’s version of “fun” involves hunting anything that moves. That includes a poor, innocent deer that becomes the first casualty of this trip—sorry Bambi!
Things take a dark turn when Madec accidentally shoots a local man instead of a deer. I mean, come on, you’d think he’d at least check his target before pulling the trigger! But alas, Madec decides that the best course of action is to bury the body and pretend it never happened. Because nothing screams “I’m innocent” like a shallow grave in the desert, right?
Now, Ben, our hapless guide, is caught in a moral dilemma. He’s like a deer in headlights, torn between his loyalty to his wealthy employer and the obvious fact that Madec is a total nutjob. And just when you think it can’t get worse, Madec reveals his true colors—he’s willing to kill to keep his secret safe. Talk about a friendship that’s gone south!
As the plot thickens like a bad stew, Ben finds himself on the run in the unforgiving desert, and let me tell you, it’s not just the heat that’s getting to him. Madec is hunting him down like he’s the last piece of pizza at a party. It’s a cat-and-mouse game that’s more intense than a toddler’s tantrum in a toy store. Ben’s survival instincts kick in, and he pulls off some impressive maneuvers, but let’s face it—he’s no match for a guy who thinks of himself as the “ultimate predator.”
In a final showdown that’s more dramatic than a soap opera cliffhanger, Ben manages to outsmart Madec. But not without some serious sweat and a few close calls that will have you clutching your imaginary pearls. The film wraps up with a twist that leaves you shaking your head and wondering how two people can take such a simple premise—hunting in the desert—and turn it into a life-or-death struggle. Spoiler alert: Madec gets his comeuppance, and Ben walks away with a newfound appreciation for life, and probably a strong urge to stick to Netflix.
In conclusion, “Beyond the Reach” is a wild ride filled with rich guy antics, desert survival, and a hefty dose of dark humor. So, if you’re in the mood for a film that’s both thrilling and absurdly funny in its own twisted way, grab a drink, kick back, and remember: not all adventures are worth taking—especially when your companion is a trigger-happy millionaire!