MMA action on the big screen has its contenders, its also-rans, its champions, and everything in between, and in this Beast MMA movie review, Tyler Atkins’ “Beast” stands out as an MMA flick truly made by champions. Produced with none other than Asia’s biggest MMA promotion, One Championship, “Beast” is an MMA diamond with fantastic fight and training sequences, a powerful, grizzled leading man performance by Daniel MacPherson, and a villainous turn from Bren Foster who captivates with some of the best and flashiest action set in an octagonal cage in ages.
Trailer
Cast
Daniel MacPherson leads “Beast” as MMA fighter turned fisherman Patton James, with Russell Crowe portraying his embittered former trainer Sammy. Bren Foster brings tremendous energy to role of the villainous MMA champion Xavier Grau, with Kelly Gale playing Patton’s wife Luciana, and Amy Shark playing Sammy’s daughter and Patton’s new trainer Rose. Mojean Aria also appears as Patton’s brother and fellow MMA fighter Malon, with Luke Hemsworth portraying Xavier’s ice-cold manager Gabriel Stone, and Sol Nc Carrico playing Patton and Luciana’s daughter, Maddie.
Patton must train intently to get back into the MMA game!
Xavier Grau is one of the most feared MMA champions in the world!
Plot
Once one of the most respected fighters in the MMA world, Patton James left the cage in disgrace after a reckless bar fight led to a prison sentence that derailed his career. Since then, Patton has managed to mostly get his life back on track as a fisherman, but still faces financial struggles in providing for his wife Luciana and daughter Maddie, along with the second child they have on the way. Patton’s brother Malon has been making his own mark in MMA, but suffers a setback after an illegal hit from ruthless reigning champion Xavier Grau. With Malon deep in debt to a loan shark, the promise of a huge payday leads Patton agrees to take on a fight with Xavier – himself eager to face Patton after their first ten fight years earlier, in which Patton gave Xavier his only career loss. Patton’s return to MMA also brings him back into contact with his old trainer Sammy, still nursing a grudge over the damage Patton’s bar fight did to his own gym, along with Sammy’s daughter Rose, who serves as Patton’s trainer as tensions continue to run high going into Patton’s upcoming rematch with Xavier.
Patton’s wife Luciana is uneasy about her husband’s return to MMA.
Rose is determined to get Patton into fighting shape to face Xavier.
Action
“Beast” Takes Its Time To Set Up The Action (& It’s Well Worth It)
For a movie so focused on MMA as a clash of titans with every match in the cage, “Beast” keeps the actual MMA action it has to offer much more on the back nine than you might expect. As explored in this Beast MMA movie review, even from the opening scene presenting Patton at the height of his MMA career as he strides into his first fight with Xavier with the confidence (and, in this case, guidance) of Maximus from “Gladiator”, Patton and Xavier’s first match is never actually shown. Indeed, opening prologue aside, “Beast” portrays Patton’s first fight with Xavier in such legendary terms that keeping it off-screen ends up being one of many great calls the movie makes. “Beast” has as much of a focus on training montages and prep for the big fight as you’d expect, but it also navigates its path there far more differently than a typical underdog comeback fight flick, thanks to the disparate but endearing and powerful motivations seen in Patton, Xavier, Sammy, and Rose that guide the tale of “Beast”.
Sammy has held a grudge towards Patton for years.
Sammy watches Patton’s fight with Xavier to cheer on his fighter.
Daniel MacPherson Shines As A Rugged Ex-Fighter
As the protagonist of “Beast”, Daniel MacPherson brings all the necessary grit, regret, wisdom, and familial dedication to Patton’s story as both ex-champ and ex-con. As highlighted in this Beast MMA movie review, like many a hero seen in countless fighting championship movies before, Patton is both a fighter of tremendous talent and a man fallen from grace, but he’s also perfectly content with how his MMA career ended, and very straightforward about the fact that a big payday is the only thing that’s getting him to step back into the cage. His fractured relationship with the bitter Sammy and more upbeat connection with Rose help coalesce Patton into a different kind of MMA protagonist than we’ve seen before, a man whose main goal is not reclaiming lost glory but personal atonement to everyone whose lives were hurt in different ways by his out-of-the-cage mistakes. Daniel MacPherson’s endearing performance as a flawed but loving husband and father returning for one more fight makes “Beast” a clear-cut crowd-pleaser, but it is Australia’s up-and-coming martial arts movie legend who makes it a true MMA fireworks show.
Sammy gives Patton a pep talk before his next fight.
Xavier’s manager Gabriel Stone sees a big payday in a rematch with Patton James.
Bren Foster’s Flashy Portrayal Of Xavier Grau Is An MMA Villain To Remember
To say that Bren Foster has been on a hot streak of late would be putting it mildly. Following 2024’s phenomenal “Life After Fighting”, Bren Foster’s involvement in a martial arts flick as either hero or villain makes it a must-see and then some, a distinction wholly applicable to “Beast”. Bren’s portrayal of Xavier Grau is a night and day difference from Patton, and not just for Xavier being the current king of the MMA world. Like Apollo Creed before him, it’s Xavier who really wants the rematch with Patton, but in the knowledge that he did indeed lose his first fight with Patton fair and square and that winning the rematch can forever cement his fight record as flawless.
Patton is prepped for his rematch with Xavier Grau.
Patton returns the cage more ready than ever.
Xavier isn’t an evil or truly vicious fighter, per se, but one whose cockiness often leads him to make the kinds of bad decisions in the cage that Patton once made outside of it. As noted in this Beast MMA movie review, a particularly harsh punch after the ref has called stop? A bent thumb to slip in an eye-gouge under the radar? All fair tactics in the Xavier Grau playbook, but ones that reflect his pride as his worst enemy and something that can (and does) lead to occasionally tragic results in his flashy fight career. And in “Beast”, “flashy” certainly applies to the movie’s outstanding fight scenes.
Patton and Xavier Grau meet again.
Xavier deflects Patton’s punch.
“Beast” Has Some Of The Best Big-Screen MMA Action In Years
The training sequences in “Beast” outnumber the actual fight scenes, but both deliver with all the electrifying impact of one of Xavier’s spinning kick combos. With the support of One Championship, the MMA battles in “Beast” feel as ringside as it gets for a fight movie, and befitting of Xavier’s reign as the organization’s current number one fighter, his matches are the centerpiece of the action in “Beast”. Bren’s eclectic martial arts background mixes flashy, powerful Taekwondo kicks with deft Jiu Jitsu grappling to make the action in “Beast” not just a spectacle, but a Trojan horse of the audience finding themselves almost cheering for the villain in a manner worthy of Yuri Boyka’s grand debut in “Undisputed 2: Last Man Standing”. While the training sequences, sparring matches, and smoker fights of “Beast” present plenty of exciting and flashy action, Patton and Xavier’s rematch is where the movie fittingly puts all its chips. In a time where most of the best fight choreography is seen by Western audiences primary through DTV and streaming platforms, the final showdown of “Beast” is one of the greatest testimonies to the power of martial arts action on the big screen in years.
Patton and Xavier engage in close combat.
Xavier is determined to avenge his loss to Patton years ago.
Summary
“Beast” is pure MMA glory with all the splendor and electricity moviemaking can offer, as highlighted throughout this Beast MMA movie review. It may be arguable that title should have been pluralized with Daniel MacPherson and Bren Foster’s parallel portrayals of two flawed but consummate warriors meeting for a rematch and the two leads’ clear commitment. In any event, “Beast” puts a different kind of spin on the underdog sports drama to spectacular, action-packed results. As an aside, should there be a “Beast 2” on the cards, Xavier Grau is fully worthy to be the next Boyka as an MMA villain who becomes a hero, and one possessing the confidence and commitment to challenge for the throne of The Most Complete Fighter in the World!
Malon goes head to head with Xavier outside of the cage.
Xavier puts Patton in a rear naked choke.
Trivia
- The movie was originally titled “The Beast in Me”.
- Bren Foster also served as fight choreographer for “Beast”.
- The movie was scripted by Russell Crowe and David Frigerio.
- The real-life ONE Championship event One 170: Tawanchai vs. Superbon 2, held in Bangkok, Thailand on January 24th, 2025, was used for a major scene in the movie.
Favourite Quotes:
“There’s only two people who know you’re going to win this fight. There’s you, and there’s me.” – Sammy, to Patton going into his first fight with Xavier.
“Punch that punk in the face.” – Patton, explain his fight plan against Xavier to Sammy.
“That’s a good plan.” – Sammy, in reply.
Film rating – 8.5/10
“Beast” is currently playing in theaters in North America, and will be released in Australia on April 23rd. Have you seen “Beast”? What are some of your favourite MMA movies? Are you excited to see Bren Foster breaking out as a martial arts star? Let us know in the comments below; Like, share and join in the conversation on Facebook and follow us on Twitter & Instagram. (And be sure to pay a visit to KFK’s FU-niversity of movie reviews and exclusive interviews, including our previous interview with Bren Foster, grab your official KFK gear and subscribe for more action on YouTube, too!)
