Actor Jason Patric (The Lost Boys, Rush) is the center of The Beast, a film taking place in mid-80s Afghanistan during the Soviet occupation. Following a lone Soviet tank cut off from the rest of their army, the film follows the tank and its crew through a treacherous mountain valley as they're doggedly pursued by the Afghan mujahideen - guerrilla warriors fighting the Soviets.

While in many ways a typical war movie, (and a good one, at that), The Beast also touches on more cerebral affairs, such as the inner conflict any soldier has between patriotism, duty, and their own sense of self-preservation and morality. It also offers a look into Afghans who collaborated with the Soviets, attempting to help their country and bring it into the modern era.

While certainly not Oscar-worthy, the actors are convincing, in particular the main characters of Patric as the young tanker, George Dzundza as his half-mad tank commander, Erick Avari as their Afghan collaborator, and Steven Bauer (Scarface) as the inexperienced new leader of the mujahideen.