Beyond Fury Review from Giallo Films!

What began with Sudden Fury, and years later A Day of Violence, Beyond Fury is finally about to be unleashed to the salivating masses, concluding Darren Ward’s 25-year-long trilogy of Euro crime splatter excellence. In the making for years due to finance restraints, Beyond Fury finally surfaces from the cinematic underbelly, as an absolute love letter to the genre.

Our story unfolds with our protagonist, Ex-Mercenary Michael Walker (Nick Roberts) and his pregnant girlfriend, Claudia (Dani Thompson), as they spend an evening out for dinner. However, what begins as a nice dinner, quickly spirals into chaos when the couple leaves the restaurant for their vehicle. Parked nearby, Claudia is leered at by a couple of droogs in a van, “Spider, look at the tits on that.” states the black-toothed driver to his neck-tatted passenger. “Bloody creeps.” says Claudia who is reassured by Walker, “Ignore them babe.” The duo continue the catcalling and verbal abuse, causing Walker to reach his boiling point, and confront the men, “You two assholes just fucked with the wrong girl.” accuses Walker, pointing his finger at then men. The driver pulls a gun and two men exit the back of the van, bashing him over the head with a tire iron, then take the couple away in the van.

Cut-to the inside of an automotive garage where Walker and Claudia are accosted further. Walker is stabbed in the side with a knife, returning the favor by stabbing his assailant through the face with the same blade. The men proceed to kick the ever-loving shit out of him whilst Claudia screams in lonesome terror. Spider, played by Gary Baxter (Day of the Stranger), then proceeds to torment her, licking her face, demanding, “Show me your tits.” Attempting to get away, she knees Spider in the groin, meeting her and her unborn baby’s ultimate demise by way of another blade, stabbed through her baby bump. Walker reaches through blood soaked eyes, unable to save his love and unborn baby. He passes out.

Meanwhile the police are investigating, at the scene of the crime. Walker is ushered to a hospital for an emergency surgery. Insert cameo from director Darren Ward, who performs the operation. Walker survives, but now he is intent on issuing his own form of blood-gushing vengeance, reverting to his old special-op ways, and intent on retribution for his life being ripped away from him.

Enter none-other-than genre titan Giovanni Lombardo Radice (House on the Edge of the Park, The Gates of Hell), whose goons were responsible for the atrocity. Radice, who previously had a small role in the second of this trilogy, A Day of Violence, plays underground Russian kingpin Ivan Lenzivitch, in a role that reminded me somewhat of his part in Domiziano Cristopharo’s House of Flesh Mannequins. What a joy it was to witness Radice playing such a ruthless character, full of eccentricities, atypical of what one sees in gangster movies. But don’t get me wrong, Ivan Lenzivitch is a ruthless badass.

Beyond Fury is an unrelenting, love letter to Euro crime films of the ‘70s. The violence is off the charts. There are a plethora of stabbings and shootings, face slashes, chainsaw fun, and a sequence with hammers that will go down in history one of the most violent and gruesome hammer-smashing, ever committed to film. Nudity, rape, and necrophilia, are also sprinkled in for good measure. For seasoned fans you will notice nods to such Euro crime films as Lucio Fulci’s Contraband, as well as homages to John Woo with some bullet ballet – squibs galore. That said, major kudos go to special effects men, Alastair Vardy and Beau Townshend for phenomenal displays of the gruesome practical effects carnage.

The acting here is surprising. I don’t usually anticipate good acting in low budget movies such as this, but the whole cast do a fine job. Newcomer Nick Roberts, also did an exceptional job as Michael Walker in a great unhinged performance. There is even a small role from Mr. Spaghetti Western himself, Dan van Husen, who plays Reverend Tony Mortimer. Not to mention, my boy Jay Creepy makes an appearance in the film as Milsom, a prized attribute to Lenzivitch.

I loved Beyond Fury. It was so refreshing to watch and lay witness to an absolute labour of love. Right down to the lighting and colour scheme. It’s all awesome. Shot on 2.5K raw image with prime lenses on a Black Magic camera, this is Ward’s most accomplished, and polished film to date. The onslaught of mayhem is a beauty to watch, making this one such a unique experience. Violence has never looks so pretty. Furthermore the score delivered by Dave Andrews accents the gritty nature of the film nicely.

Fans of Euro crime cinema of the ‘70s and ‘80s, gore fans in general, and especially fans of Darren Ward will definitely have a fun time with Beyond Fury. Now, here’s wishing great success with this release so one day soon we can get a Giallo or straight-up horror film from Mr. Ward.

// Join our awesome newsletter! * You can also place any other content here

Beyond Fury Review from Giallo Films!

About The Author