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The Beast
1988 111 min United States of America R 16+
★6.9
War, Drama
Director: Kevin Reynolds
Trailers
Description
During the war in Afghanistan a Soviet tank crew commanded by a tyrannical officer find themselves lost and in a struggle against a band of Mujahadeen guerrillas in the mountains.
US Gross:
$161,004
Starring
George Dzundza
Actor
Jason Patric
Actor
Steven Bauer
Actor
Awards
1 win total
Key opinion
Kevin Reynolds' 1988 war drama is widely perceived as a product of Cold War-era propaganda that reflects a distinct Western bias. While the film attempts to deconstruct the Soviet military experience through its central tank crew, it is criticized for prioritizing ideological satire over historical authenticity.
| Theme | The film functions as a clear vehicle for Cold War-era propaganda that distorts the reality of the Soviet-Afghan conflict. | |
| Acting | George Dzundza’s portrayal of commander Daskal effectively captures a grotesque, singular embodiment of irrational cruelty. | |
| Score | The musical score leans into the film's satirical, propagandistic tone rather than aiming for a grounded war-drama atmosphere. | |
| Theme | Audiences are divided on the film's characterization: some see an attempt at nuance in the crew's moral awakening, while others view the characters as one-dimensional personifications of cowardice and hate. | |
| Screenplay | Disagreement exists regarding the film's narrative weight; some find the road-movie arc to be a compelling critique of ideology, whereas others view the tactical elements as meaningless and gratuitous. |