On Deadly Ground (1994)

What is not to love about the possibilities of Steven Seagal’s On Deadly Ground? It not only stars Seagal, but he directed the film too. What could possibly go wrong? You name it.

Perhaps the most amazing fact about this film other than its director and star is the rest of the cast: Billy Bob Thornton, John C. McGinley, Joan Chen, R. Lee Ermey, and Michael Caine. Michael Caine. I have no idea of what state of mind Seagal was in during this period, but this seems to be a well-intended, socially conscious film with a compelling cast. Well, you know what they say about good intentions.

The premise of the film involves a big oil company attempting to acquire drilling rights from Native Alaskans or something like that. Forrest Taft (Seagal) works for that company, but suspects there may be shortcuts and underhanded doings going on. The company is willing to murder whoever gets in its way. Soon, Taft finds himself fighting for his life and ends up taking a spiritual journey where he must make the choice between enlightenment or the pleasures of the physical world. While I admire Seagal’s plea for environmental responsibility, his execution of those ideals doesn’t quite stick (unless you count his stabs a few of the bad guys with whatever he could get ahold of when meting out justice). It looks like the sort of film I would have made in junior high, using violence and power to make a point about enlightenment and harmony: an ill-conceived, immature comic book assertion on righting wrongs. Yes, we will show these callous business tycoons the right way by putting their heads on sticks. That sounds reasonable.

Watching On Deadly Ground on videotape was satisfying for all the wrong reasons. The story and direction were ham-fisted, but most of the actors seem to get that this film was not to be taken seriously and performed accordingly. This movie offers a ridiculous good time with Caine and McGinley blowing everyone else out of the pond with incredibly over the top performances, seemingly in a different dimension from Seagal’s stoic attempt at coolly detached mannerisms that just ends up in his typically ludicrous delivery—except, of course, when Seagal’s Taft inevitably disposes of both characters violently. Seagal apparently sees himself as some force of righteous nature but comes off like some cosmically charged high school bully who never quite learned how to connect with others. As mentioned earlier, Billy Bob Thornton is also in this film, and while his presence is essentially wasted, he still provides more charisma than Seagal could ever dream about.

This movie is just good, stupid fun and answers an age-old question: what if a homicidal maniac decided to become an environmental activist? Run, Forrest Taft, run.