 Darren Ward clearly adores filmmaking, crime movies, and horror. The ambition and relish of his direction bursts from every shot, spilling over to his actors who seize their roles with gusto. It’s as much fun as a film with so much splatter and spite can be, and for those with the stomach and a taste for such low-budget gems there’s plenty to enjoy here. I’m a fan and vocal advocate of Darren Ward’s blood-drenched indie thriller A Day of Violence (2010), which is a low-budget British crime flick with an ambitious streak and an extreme horror sensibility. Ever since being so pleasantly surprised by ADOV I’ve been eager to catch Ward’s follow-up Beyond Fury (2019), which completes a trilogy of crime films that began with 1997’s Sudden Fury. Beyond Fury is a revenge caper that charts the face-shredding, bone-splintering, stomach-blasting consequences of one act of violence. It’s a familiar set-up: ex-mercenary Michael Walker has left his slaughter-for-pay career because he “was too good at it”. He now has a loving, heavily pregnant girlfriend and they’re about to move into their new home. However, when a grim random assault leaves both girlfriend and unborn child full of holes, it’s time for Walker to strap on his murderin’ boots and get back to doing what he’s best at. One of the great joys of being an indie horror fan is when I find a movie that crackles with the energy of something greater than the sum of its parts - and that’s what Ward’s films encapsulate for me. The performances of his leering goons are uneven but always fun, the cinematography is creative and admirable especially for an indie feature, and the brutality is always uncompromising. Seriously - there are shocking scenes, so if occasional sexual violence or the thought of seeing a man’s feet literally being hammered to pieces turns your stomach, stay away. For the rest of you, strap in for the ride. The wince-inducing practical effects deserve real recognition, and rank alongside some of the best gore I’ve seen in years. Fuck your CGI and fuck your quick cutaways: Beyond Fury delivers the goods! While this dedication is pleasing, it shouldn’t be a surprise considering Ward’s influences: he owns Giallo Films, two of his movies feature Italian horror veteran Giovanni Lombardo Radice, and his head villain in Beyond Fury is named Lenzivitch, which is no doubt a reference to the notorious gorefest director Umberto Lenzi.  While the film begins in spectacular form, it has to be said that it’s lightly peppered with lulls. One subplot that involves two detectives wading through the wake of Walker’s carnage adds little to the proceedings, and I feel like shaving this would have left us with a tighter, more crowd-pleasing tale. There’s also the fact that the acting is resolutely low-budget, which will put some viewers off; however, there’s real charm to the ravenous energy the performers bring to their characters, and what some lack in acting chops they make up for in sheer sadistic enthusiasm. Darren Ward clearly adores filmmaking, crime movies, and horror. The ambition and relish of his direction bursts from every shot, spilling over to his actors who seize their roles with gusto. It’s as much fun as a film with so much splatter and spite can be, and for those with the stomach and a taste for such low-budget gems there’s plenty to enjoy here. Beyond Fury hasn’t yet been released in the UK, for what director Ward suggests are fears over the potential demand for cuts in order to gain certification. After having seen it I can understand why he might fear such a thing, but in an industry allows for uncut versions of Baise-Moi, Cannibal Holocaust, and Antichrist, I think his concerns would likely be unfounded. In the meantime, while we wait for an eventual British release, go check out A Day of Violence! JONATHAN BUTCHER Jonathan is an author and occasional reviewer with an interest in authoring and occasional reviewing. Having written what some suggested was the most disturbing thing they'd ever read with his confrontational novella What Good Girls Do, he's now turned his attentions to writing family-friendly romantic comedies. Not really. He's still a sick little monkey. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Jonathan-Butcher/e/B01CMN2EFG%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share TODAY ON THE GINGER NUTS OF HORROR WEBSITEBOOK REVIEW: SMITHY BY AMANDA DESIREE THE HEART AND SOUL OF HORROR WEBSITES |
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