Bad Heat - Highway des Todes

well, despite some scathing reviews on here, i loved it. it's got some glorious tension building, and although the ending is scrappy, the exploration of morality between the two characters, and what their lives are built on gives a lot of energy to that tension, and to the ending. some bits could have been handled better, but the portrayal of Henriksen as the "loser" character (was that paunch fake anyone know?) is wonderful, a real Homer. right up til the end.

watching it for the second time to re-evaluate the relationship between the two bears up too, now you know what they and you know.

watch it, it's worth it. Henriksen at a high point.

Possibly the only people who saw this movie are the ones who posted user comments, which is too bad. I wouldnt say it was one of the best movies ever made, and I wouldnt call it a piece of c**p either. This movie seemed to be made for people who appreciate second banana actors, and it was done pretty well in my opinion. Anyone who has stayed up late at night watching cable should be familiar with Eric and Lance. Lance is one of my favorite actors, and this was one of those movies that stand out in my mind when I think of his work. The ending was great. I dont want to give anything away, but...that pretty much made the movie for me. I think if this movie went mainstream with bigger named actors...like..I dont know, Brad Pitt and Edward Norton, this would have been a hit. Instead, its doomed to be one of those movies that you see when you want to see something else, and its too bad, because as it is, it should be one that you want to watch. After checking for DVD availability for over a year now, I've come to the conclusion that this movie will never get a fair chance. Thats too bad, because its a good movie, and most people wont even know it was ever made.

"Eric Roberts and Lance Henriksen star in this intense psychological thriller about a businessman drawn into a bloody game of cat and mouse by a mysterious drifter. With the police searching for a serial killer on a murderous rampage, and a million dollars missing from a Las Vegas casino, both men have something sinister to hide. But as the lies are peeled away and their true nature is revealed, it becomes clear that one of them is a madman. The question is which one…" asks the DVD sleeve description.

Writer/director Victor Salva makes it like a psycho on wheels, with plenty of gay subtext. Picture "The Hitcher" with both driver and passenger playing psychopaths. Devilishly charismatic Mr. Roberts (as Adrian) was born to play this role, and a psychologically bent Mr. Henriksen (as Jack) matches him at most every turn. The production is inexpensive but effective; it keeps you either interested or riveted, but fails, in the end, to tie its interesting threads together. And, Henriksen's girth was unnecessary.

******* The Nature of the Beast (10/24/95) Victor Salva ~ Lance Henriksen, Eric Roberts, Brion James, Sasha Jenson

What I have to say is merely a repetition of what the other users said before:the two leads literally save the movie from absolute mediocrity.They are so good,their performances are so intense that they are to be commended for transcending the limitations they are working under .The script writers ,in order to make sure the audience understands they have been watching a "deep" "meaningful" work call Jeremiah (and the Bible) to the rescue,but it's too little too late.

This is the well known mix road movie/"there's a killer on the road" (as Jim Morrison used to sing),and even a child could guess who he is.But the film deserves a look ,weren't it only for the way two first-class actors can redeem abysmal scripts.

Although underrated, "The Nature of The Beast" is a very good thriller. Its tense and bleak atmosphere keeps you in a nail-biting state throughout the film, with its best part being its end, when a brilliant plot twist really brings everything upside down.

The story begins with Jack (Henriksen), a typical, middle-class executive on a business travel, who bumps onto a murder scene; the policemen in charge advise him to be careful on his way, as there is a serial killer in the area hitch-hiking for his next victim. Keeping this advice in mind, he avoids somebody he encounters who asks for a lift; unfortunately, he is not so lucky, as he soon finds the guy in a diner some kilometers ahead. The guy loses no time to introduce himself as Andrian (Roberts), and he soon becomes a thorn on Jack's side, who in turn realizes that it will be very difficult to get away from this menace...

Featuring two great performances, the movie is virtually a two-man show: Both Roberts and Henriksen are really great in their roles, and it would not be an exaggeration to say that the film's value is based on them. The other characters have short appearances which simply supplement the duo.

A film worth having a look. 7/10.