Beyond

After a seven-year-old with an 'imaginary' friend gets kidnapped, it's put high on the rader since she's the police chief's niece. So Detective John (Jon Voight),who's wrestling with demons from his past, reluctantly teams up with a TV physic, whom has wormed himself into the investigation, to find her.

This movie is only marginally watchable because of Voight. Everything else about the film is decidedly sub-par, be it the awful acting or the easily predictable plot 'twists'. I found myself glancing at my watch multiple times (never a good sign)

My Grade: C-

BEYOND is a supernatural thriller / police procedural film set in Alaska. When a little girl goes missing, the police bring in an expert in such cases (Jon Voight). Things get interesting when a radio / TV psychic gets involved.

Unexplainable events occur indicating possible paranormal activity.

While the story is decent, what makes this movie watchable is Voight. He soars above the material. Otherwise, it would be just another run-of-the-mill, PG-13 spooker...

"I know she hasn't been gone 24 hours but this is my family, my niece." After a child goes missing detective John Koski (Voight) is on the case and tries to find the missing niece of the Chief of Police (Mulroney). When the mother and babysitter tell Koski about a psychic who may be able to help Koski is reluctant to accept him. I really wasn't sure what to expect from this at all. The best way to describe this is the feel of a made for TV movie with better acting and an OK idea. While this is really nothing super original or that exciting it is still worth a watch and could have been worse. The biggest problem is that the person I suspected about a half hour in turned out to be the right one. I'm not sure if it's because I watch to many movies and have picked up on certain clues or if the movie is just that predictable. Either way this is still worth a watch but nothing to rush and see. Overall, not bad but would work better as a TV show instead of a movie. I give it a B-.

Haunted by a case from his past an Alaskan detective due for retirement must find a kidnapped girl and reluctantly enlists the help of a psychic who is also a prime-suspect.

It's nice to see John Voight in a lead role where he belongs instead of a supporting cast player. Voight effortlessly carries the film on has shoulders. Director Josef Rusnak's Beyond while not as atmospheric as Insomnia (2002) or as stylish as his own Thirteenth Floor (1999) presents an entertaining mystery/thriller with a psychic element. The supporting cast are a mixed bag (some oddly misplaced and awful) but thankfully Jodie Foster-like Teri Polo and Dermot Mulroney as Jack Musker are reliable and solid.

It's well filmed, competently put together with writer Gregory Gierasa putting forward an interesting premise, even if it loses it gust slightly in the closing act especially in the reveal. Nevertheless, its satisfying enough thanks to Voight's principle role as Jon Koski.

*** EDIT (2016-11-10) I happened to be re-reading about this film and I saw my review here and that it had a rather poor 6/12 rating with readers. Heh... they were bloody right! Gawd-awful review, sorry about that... So, I amended it and tried to improve it so that HOPEFULLY it might actually be of some help to those who want to know more about the movie.

***

I REALLY like the director's film 'THE 13TH FLOOR'; I thought it was beautifully done, the story was very engaging, and it was extremely entertaining, especially if you like Science Fiction. However, I get the feeling that his heart just was not completely in this one.

The scenery and photography are breathtaking; Alaska is truly a beautiful place! I do fully agree with the other reviewer here who stated that the principle actors did a decent job while the supporting ones were pretty cringe-worthy. I DID think that the psychic guy was okay; maybe I just liked his accent... BUT... the 'baby-sitter' and the husband were clearly blowing SOMEBODY because I cannot for the life of me imagine why they would ever, EVER be considered as serious actors in any film...

Probably, due to the established talent of the director, the movie technically was done in a fairly competent way. If you are not terribly demanding, and I mean really NOT demanding at all, then it is possible that you might actually find something to enjoy in this movie....

It is quite sad I think to see a great actor like Jon Voight looking so rough in his older years, especially when he was so good looking when he was younger; and he's not even really that old. But, that is the way it is with some people, I guess. Just kind of sad, that's all...

Anyway, sorry to digress... But, there's nothing really to get very excited about here. Unless of course the 'babysitter' goes back to doing porn like she was clearly born and bred for... : )

Seriously though, the film makes a moderately decent effort, but sadly it just doesn't seem to have the substance or quality that that the director has clearly demonstrated in the past...