Review of On Deadly Ground (1994) by Patrick E — 07 Aug 2010

Steven Seagal is known for starring in a number of terrible films, but not many people remember his one and only directorial effort which is perhaps one of the worst in his long list of stinkers. That film is called "On Deadly Ground" and bar the final half an hour is a complete and utter bore with an ecological message that's almost rammed down your throat.

The so called plot tells the story of a Native American environmental nutjob who must stop a ruthless oil tycoon from destroying an Alaskan landscape and stealing an oil reserve from the local Eskimo population. Now there is nothing actually wrong with the plot, it's no worse than most brainless action films. The problem is that the action doesn't actually start until the final 30 minutes; instead we are treated to a load of mystical mumbo jumbo about the environment and spirit guides etc. Seagal travels to an Eskimo village where he talks for literally 20 minutes about mysticism with the tribal chief and it is without doubt the most nonsensical rubbish I have ever witnessed in a film. It's clear that Seagal wanted to get his own thoughts on the screen, unfortunately for us they are the most inane ramblings you will ever hear. The worst part is that the final half hour is actually very entertaining as the film reverts to simple action with Seagal kicking the ass of countless henchmen. Most people won't make it this far though; I guess I just enjoy torturing myself. To make things worse, and just in case we haven't figured out the films message yet, the final ten or so minutes is a montage of environmental disasters with a voice over from Seagal saying we are destroying the world. If he really wanted to get this point across then a documentary is a much better way of doing it than an action film!

On Deadly Ground could have been a fun action film as the last half hour showed, sadly though the previous hour is almost torture. It's no surprise that Seagal never directed another film and just how he managed to get Michael Caine to star as the bad guy I will never know. Avoid.