'Force of Nature' Trailer Promises a Thrilling Actioner Grounded by a Solid Cast

Lionsgate's 'Force of Nature' starring Mel Gibson looks set to provide quarantining audiences with the cinematic experience by successfully selling itself as two action-based genre movies in combined into one

'Force of Nature' (CREDIT: Lionsgate)

by Jack Linsdell

Lionsgate just debuted the trailer for their latest action-based movie Force of Nature and clearly the marketing team have done a good job. I mean that as a compliment because they've successfully sold the Michael Polish-directed flick as one of those "B genre movies" that provides audiences with escapist entertainment in the form of gritty and tense action scenes, but with an emphasis on character over spectacle. And, what's more, they seem to be providing audiences who are stuck at home in lockdown still with the cinematic experience, but through the small-screen, PVOD/streaming format instead. 

Set for release by Lionsgate on streaming, digital, DVD and Blu-ray from June 30 this year, Force of Nature looks set to provide audiences with cinematic thrills of an action nature days before the domestic debut of Solstice Studios' Russell Crowe road rage thriller Unhinged on July 1 and weeks preceding the worldwide roll out of Christopher Nolan's time-travel action blockbuster in late July (if it isn't delayed). That could make this flick a somewhat one-stop shop for those looking for new action-thrillers. And considering how "cinematic" this film looks from the trailer alone, then this Lionsgate release could do well from online sales. 

Even if it doesn't, it looks like great fun. First, the film looks gorgeous, with really atmospheric cinematography and colour palettes. It promises a fairly original story, one that seems to put character over spectacle and grounded action sequences over the usual VFX-heavy antics found in the biggest blockbusters. And, with an awesome cast of Mel Gibson, Kate Bosworth (whose husband is the movie's director) and Emile Hirsch (amongst others), Force of Nature is just the sort of high-quality popcorn entertainment that Lionsgate prides themselves on, following the likes of Angel Has Fallen late last year. But, what this trailers does best of all is successfully sell the movie as two action-based genre flicks pulled originally into one tense movie. 

Last year, Paramount released their Alligator-based thriller Crawl into theatres to rave reviews and red hot buzz, not to mention superb commercial results to the tune of $91 million worldwide cume on a mere $13 million budget. As well as being one of last years best movies hands down, and bringing life back into a tired genre, that Alexandra Aja flick was most notable for being two movies rolled into one. It's two leads (a father and his grown up daughter) not only had to fight off man-eating Crocs whilst trapped in their basement, but also the rapidly approaching menace of a category 5 hurricane too. This successful genre hybrid of part disaster movie, part thriller added to the entertainment value because when one event was taking a back foot (or was being resolved) the other would kick in, keeping the tension till the very last moments. And, sometimes they'd be hit with both concurrently, adding to the stakes. 

Force of Nature seems to be playing a very similar game. It's also part disaster movie, with a cop (Hirsch) trying to evacuate residents from an apartment block during a vicious hurricane, including a woman (Bosworth) trying to force her reluctant father (Gibson) to leave his "home". Yet, it then acts as part crime-thriller too, with the trio joining together to defend the apartments from armed thieves trying to capitalise on the natural disaster to carry out their dirty work. Considering how successfully Crawl managed to hybrid two action-based genres, and in a way deepened its entertainment value for audiences as a result, I've no doubt that Force of Nature can do the same. 

For what its worth, Mel Gibson has had a string of recent low-budget, character-driven and surprisingly good action flicks including Blood Father and Dragged Across Concrete which is something of a validity for this one too. Also, Bosworth is a delightfully underrated actress, whose starring turn in the recent Netflix miniseries The I-Land (which she co-produced too) was one of the best leading performances I've seen in a commercial series for a long time. As for the series itself, I highly recommend it. Anyway, I digress, but grounded with a superb cast on somewhat of a recent hot streak, Force of Nature looks set to provide audiences with new action thrills long before anything else has a chance of hitting theatres when they reopen, which will make it more of an event potentially. I for one am most excited by this one and I highly recommend viewing the trailer on YouTube or such place. 

Anyway, Force of Nature directed by Michael Polish and written by Cory Miller is available to buy on DVD, Blu-ray and digital courtesy of Lionsgate from June 30.