Belly of the Beast (2003) Biography, Plot, Production, Reception, Trailer.

Belly of the Beast (2003)

Belly of the Beast is a 2003 American action film directed by Hong Kong film director Ching Siu-tung in his American directorial debut, and starring Steven Seagal, who also produced. The film co-stars Byron Mann, Monica Lo and Tom Wu. Seagal plays Jake Hopper, a former CIA agent on a quest to find his kidnapped daughter. The film was released on direct-to-DVD in the United States on December 30, 2003; the film recouped its budget from the US home video market alone.

Plot.

en years ago, CIA agent Jake Hopper was stationed in Thailand. A fight with thugs resulted in his partner, Sunti escaping with his life after accidentally killing a woman. Following that, Jake left the CIA and returned to the United States when his wife died, while Sunti became a Buddhist monk to atone for his sins. Following his retirement, Jake becomes a successful businessman running a private security business while being a devoted father to his now-adult daughter Jessica. While hiking in Thailand, Jessica and her friend Sara Winthorpe, the daughter of U.S. Senator John Winthorpe, are kidnapped. A group of Islamic fundamentalists known as the Abu Karaf claims responsibility. The Abu Karaf demand the release of 20 prisoners from American custody. Tom Collins, an ex-colleague of Jake’s, recognizes Jessica on the ransom tape, and he tips Jake off. Knowing that Jake must rescue the girls himself, a former CIA colleague puts him in contact with Leon Washington, an active CIA agent who is working in Thailand. Jake goes to Bangkok, and he escapes an assassination attempt by gangsters and unknown forces.

Meanwhile, Leon arranges a meeting for himself with Soku, the internal security chief for General Jantapan, a rebel military general who is making a play to be one of the most powerful men in Thailand. Secretly, Jantapan is messing with some very dangerous spiritual forces. Soku provides Jake with a cover story, but the CIA wants Jake out of the way because they’re planning to take out the Abu Karaf with the aid of the Thai army, and they don’t want a civilian in the middle. As a spiritual man, Jake contacts his spiritual master, Buddhist monk Paijan Paitoon. As Jake descends into trouble, Paitoon offers to arrange a divination from the oracle of the order. After enlisting the help of Sunti, Jake gets Lulu, the girlfriend of arms dealer Fitch McQuoid, to steal information leading to the Abu Karaf. Jake and Sunti follow the leads to a warehouse where they discover evidence of highly sophisticated weaponry. With their enemies now after Lulu, Jake takes Lulu under his wing. He then shares some of his info with Leon still testing the waters. Another attempt is made on Jake’s life, and this time, Jake’s sure that Leon was involved.

Production, Reception, Home media.

It is set and was filmed in Bangkok, Thailand, in 42 days from February 3 to March 17, 2003. The film ends with words saying “In Loving Memory of our friend Trevor Murray,” who was the film’s production designer. Murray died of natural causes in Bangkok during the last few days of filming. Scott Weinberg of eFilmCritic.com gives the film 1.5/5 and is highly critical of Seagal: “It’s not just that Seagal makes awful movies; it’s that he makes the exact same awful movies over and over.” Empire magazine gives the film 1/5 and says that even compared to other Seagal films “this one is especially woeful”.The film was released in Region 1 DVD in the United States on December 30, 2003, and Region 2 in the United Kingdom on 16 February 2004 by Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment.