Veteran Finnish filmmaker Renny Harlin recently made a significant return to Malta, an island nation that holds a unique place in his cinematic history. His visit last week was primarily to attend the Mediterrane Film Festival, a burgeoning international event designed to spotlight the Mediterranean region’s cinematic talent and promote Malta as a premier filming destination. During the festival, Harlin’s latest work, the shark thriller Deep Water, featuring Aaron Eckhart and Ben Kingsley, was screened to an appreciative audience. However, it was his 1995 action-adventure epic, Cutthroat Island, that initially brought the acclaimed director to Malta, cementing a connection with the island that has evolved over decades.
Harlin’s enthusiasm for Malta was palpable during a masterclass conversation on directing, held within the festival hub in Valletta. Sharing the stage with Steven Weintraub of Collider, Harlin declared, "Malta is the best-kept secret. People don’t realize how incredible this place is." This sentiment underscores a broader narrative of Malta’s growing prominence in the global film industry, a trajectory that Harlin has witnessed firsthand from his initial blockbuster production on its shores.
Malta’s Enduring Allure as a Filming Destination
Malta, a small archipelago in the central Mediterranean, has long been a favored backdrop for major Hollywood and international productions. Its diverse landscapes, ancient architecture, and pristine coastal areas offer a versatile canvas for filmmakers across various genres. From the historical grandeur of Gladiator and the epic scope of Troy to the prehistoric wonders of the Jurassic Park franchise (specifically Jurassic World Dominion which filmed some sequences there), Malta has consistently attracted high-profile projects. Beyond these, the island has famously hosted productions like Popeye (1980), Munich (2005), Game of Thrones (early seasons), and World War Z (2013), showcasing its adaptability to different storytelling demands.
The Malta Film Commission, established to support and promote the local film industry, plays a crucial role in this appeal. It offers attractive incentives, including a competitive cash rebate program, which can return up to 40% of eligible expenditure incurred in Malta. This financial encouragement, coupled with a skilled local crew base and world-class facilities like the Malta Film Studios with its unique water tanks, makes the island an economically viable and creatively rich choice for producers. Harlin’s statement about Malta being a "best-kept secret" serves as a powerful endorsement, potentially drawing even more attention to the island’s cinematic capabilities and its robust support system for international productions.
The Mediterrane Film Festival: A Platform for Regional and Global Cinema
The Mediterrane Film Festival, where Harlin was a distinguished guest, is itself a testament to Malta’s commitment to cinema. Launched with the ambition to become a leading cultural event in the Mediterranean, the festival aims to celebrate film as an art form while fostering collaboration and exchange between filmmakers from the region and beyond. By inviting prominent industry figures like Renny Harlin, the festival provides invaluable opportunities for aspiring local talent to learn from seasoned professionals and for Malta to solidify its reputation as a dynamic hub for film culture. The screening of Deep Water at such an event not only highlights Harlin’s current work but also aligns with the festival’s mission to showcase diverse cinematic narratives.
Harlin’s connection to Malta dates back to 1995, when Cutthroat Island utilized the island’s picturesque coastal areas and historic forts to bring its pirate world to life. Despite the film’s notorious box office performance, which contributed to the collapse of Carolco Pictures, its production in Malta demonstrated the island’s capacity to handle large-scale, intricate action sequences. His return nearly three decades later, now with a new thriller and a career spanning diverse genres, speaks volumes about the enduring quality of Malta as a filmmaking partner.
A Look Ahead: "The Beast" and Harlin’s Collaboration with Samuel L. Jackson
Beyond reflecting on Malta’s past contributions to his career, Harlin also offered a compelling glimpse into his upcoming release, The Beast, slated for an October release. Penned by Umair Aleem, the film promises a high-octane thriller starring two powerhouse actors: Samuel L. Jackson and Joel Kinnaman. The narrative centers on Jackson as a U.S. president who finds himself trapped inside his heavily armored presidential limousine, famously known as "the Beast," amidst a meticulously coordinated coup by a hostile militia. The president’s survival hinges on his ability to uncover and utilize the vehicle’s top-secret offensive capabilities, transforming him from a figurehead into an unlikely action hero fighting for his life and his country.
During his masterclass, Harlin elaborated on the film’s premise, telling Weintraub and the packed audience, "It’s a really unusual movie and quite a brilliant script." He further teased the film’s explosive opening sequence: "The film opens with the biggest action scene you’ve ever seen straight when the lights hit the screen. [The audience realizes] that we are in a world summit like a G7 meeting with all the world leaders, and there’s been a humongous terrorist attack. It’s never really explained who the terrorists are or what nationality they are or anything like that, but there’s been an attempt on the lives of several presidents. They have to get Sam Jackson into the Beast, which is his safe, bulletproof, explosion-proof vehicle and get him the hell out of there before he’s killed. And one thing leads to another." This immediate plunge into chaos sets the tone for a relentless survival narrative.
The Dynamic Duo: Jackson and Kinnaman
The Beast marks the fourth collaboration between Renny Harlin and Samuel L. Jackson, a partnership that has yielded memorable genre films. Their shared filmography includes the critically acclaimed action-thriller The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996), the cult classic shark thriller Deep Blue Sea (1999), and the crime drama Cleaner (2007). This established working relationship suggests a comfortable synergy between director and actor, often translating into powerful on-screen performances.
In The Beast, Jackson’s presidential character is joined by a "badly wounded" Secret Service agent, portrayed by Joel Kinnaman. Harlin highlighted the core of the film’s emotional and action-driven narrative: "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 focus on the confined, intense relationship between two disparate characters in a life-or-death situation promises a gripping cinematic experience.
Harlin also expressed high expectations for Kinnaman’s performance, predicting a significant boost to the actor’s already impressive career. "I’d like to think that this movie is really going to make Joel’s career," Harlin stated, emphasizing the depth and impact of his role. Kinnaman, a veteran actor known for his diverse credits across film and television, including For All Mankind, Silent Night, House of Cards, Altered Carbon, The Suicide Squad, Hanna, and Imperfect Women, is poised to deliver a standout performance that Harlin believes will "stun" audiences.
Unleashing "The Beast": The Presidential Limousine Reimagined
Central to the film’s concept is the titular vehicle, the presidential limousine known as "the Beast." Harlin clearly relished the creative freedom of experimenting with this iconic, yet largely mysterious, vehicle. In the film’s narrative, the Beast is portrayed as an almost indestructible fortress on wheels, equipped with advanced, covert weaponry.
Harlin explained its formidable capabilities: "It’s indestructible. No matter what missiles they send its way, they can’t destroy the car. They just keep going, and then 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." This fictionalized enhancement of the real-world presidential limousine, which is already a marvel of engineering designed for unparalleled protection, adds a layer of thrilling speculation to the story. The real "Beast" is a custom-built Cadillac, heavily armored with bulletproof glass, military-grade plating, and hermetically sealed against chemical attacks, but its offensive capabilities are, of course, a closely guarded secret. Harlin’s film takes this secrecy and amplifies it for dramatic effect.
The twist in the narrative, according to Harlin, is that the president himself is unfamiliar with these hidden functionalities. "The president has never done anything but smoked a cigar in the back of the car so he doesn’t know how any of these things work. There’s all these computer panels and weapons and things that he’s trying to figure out how to work them and he can’t get in touch with the headquarters and he’s all alone there, so it just becomes this incredible survival story." This scenario promises a blend of intense action and a compelling character arc, as a leader accustomed to being protected must suddenly become his own protector, improvising with unknown technology under extreme duress. Harlin reiterated the strength of the central relationship: "This is my fourth movie with Sam, and the relationship between him and Joel Kinnaman is exceptional."
Broader Implications and Harlin’s Enduring Legacy
Renny Harlin’s visit to the Mediterrane Film Festival and his enthusiastic endorsement of Malta serve as a powerful signal to the global film industry. It reinforces Malta’s status not just as a picturesque backdrop, but as a fully capable and welcoming partner for large-scale international productions. For Malta, attracting filmmakers of Harlin’s caliber, and hosting events like the Mediterrane Film Festival, are vital components of its strategy to boost its creative economy, foster local talent, and enhance its cultural profile on the world stage.
For Harlin himself, The Beast represents another significant entry in a career marked by a consistent commitment to action and suspense. From the iconic Die Hard 2 and Cliffhanger to his more recent endeavors, Harlin has carved a niche as a director who understands how to deliver high-stakes entertainment. The anticipation surrounding The Beast, particularly with the formidable pairing of Samuel L. Jackson and Joel Kinnaman, suggests a potential resurgence for the director, further cementing his legacy as a purveyor of thrilling cinematic experiences. As the film prepares for its October release, all eyes will be on how Harlin’s vision, combined with a compelling script and stellar performances, brings this extraordinary survival story to life.
