1994·Action·1h 41m
6.9
★
Forrest Taft is an environmental agent who works for the Aegis Oil Company in Alaska. Aegis Oil's corrupt CEO is the kind of person who doesn't care whether or not oil spills into the ocean or onto the land—just as long as it's making money for him.
Directed by Steven Seagal
martial arts
petrol
corruption
fight
mercenary
inuit
secret agent
tribe
woods
alaska
terrorism
one man army
one against many
enviromental
action hero
good versus evil
Trailer
IMDB
N/A
Where to Watch
Cast
Steven Seagal
Forrest Taft
Michael Caine
Michael Jennings
Joan Chen
Masu
John C. McGinley
MacGruder
R. Lee Ermey
Stone
Shari Shattuck
Liles
Billy Bob Thornton
Homer Carlton
Richard Hamilton
Hugh Palmer
John Trudell
Johnny Redfeather
Mike Starr
Big Mike
Sven-Ole Thorsen
Otto
Irvin Kershner
Walters
Crew
Steven Seagal
Director
Basil Poledouris
Original Music Composer
Robert A. Ferretti
Editor
A. Kitman Ho
Producer
Steven Seagal
Producer
Jeff Robinov
Executive Producer
Robert Watts
Executive Producer
Danny Epper
Stunts
Garrett Warren
Stunts
Kenny Endoso
Stunts
Michael Runyard
Stunts
Conrad E. Palmisano
Stunt Coordinator
Popular Reviews
24 reviews
Skipp
10.0★ · 03/05/26
Found a copy of this on VHS at a Goodwill, after much looking for this film in any physical format for the collection, ran it through the VCR to see how it played, and wound up watching the whole thing... and then promptly forgot to log it.
I find it interesting how Seagal has become a more bad version of Forrest Taft, his character in this film. Forrest flat out says he is a whore of sorts in the beginning of the film, but clearly has his passions buried deep and thinks he is wiser than everyone else in the room while still throwing people who try to fight him around. Seagal is no different - he sucks up to Putin, he still thinks he's the greatest aikido master in the world, and yet he's still passionate, he says, about the environment or animal rights or a mysterious third topic that he cares a lot about that eludes me. Forrest Taft becomes one with the people who are in tune with nature; Seagal thinks he has done the same, and probably hasn't. It doesn't make On Deadly Ground any less of a great movie. I don't know what exactly is stopping me from putting this at a five star rating, either, so I'm putting it there.
I find it interesting how Seagal has become a more bad version of Forrest Taft, his character in this film. Forrest flat out says he is a whore of sorts in the beginning of the film, but clearly has his passions buried deep and thinks he is wiser than everyone else in the room while still throwing people who try to fight him around. Seagal is no different - he sucks up to Putin, he still thinks he's the greatest aikido master in the world, and yet he's still passionate, he says, about the environment or animal rights or a mysterious third topic that he cares a lot about that eludes me. Forrest Taft becomes one with the people who are in tune with nature; Seagal thinks he has done the same, and probably hasn't. It doesn't make On Deadly Ground any less of a great movie. I don't know what exactly is stopping me from putting this at a five star rating, either, so I'm putting it there.
Found a copy of this on VHS at a Goodwill, after much looking for this film in any physical format for the collection, ran it through the VCR to see how it played, and wound up watching the whole thing... and then promptly forgot to log it.
I find it interesting how Seagal has become a more bad version of Forrest Taft, his character in this film. Forrest flat out says he is a whore of sorts in the beginning of the film, but clearly has his passions buried deep and thinks he is wiser than everyone else in the room while still throwing people who try to fight him around. Seagal is no different - he sucks up to Putin, he still thinks he's the greatest aikido master in the world, and yet he's still passionate, he says, about the environment or animal rights or a mysterious third topic that he cares a lot about that eludes me. Forrest Taft becomes one with the people who are in tune with nature; Seagal thinks he has done the same, and probably hasn't. It doesn't make On Deadly Ground any less of a great movie. I don't know what exactly is stopping me from putting this at a five star rating, either, so I'm putting it there.
I find it interesting how Seagal has become a more bad version of Forrest Taft, his character in this film. Forrest flat out says he is a whore of sorts in the beginning of the film, but clearly has his passions buried deep and thinks he is wiser than everyone else in the room while still throwing people who try to fight him around. Seagal is no different - he sucks up to Putin, he still thinks he's the greatest aikido master in the world, and yet he's still passionate, he says, about the environment or animal rights or a mysterious third topic that he cares a lot about that eludes me. Forrest Taft becomes one with the people who are in tune with nature; Seagal thinks he has done the same, and probably hasn't. It doesn't make On Deadly Ground any less of a great movie. I don't know what exactly is stopping me from putting this at a five star rating, either, so I'm putting it there.
Isaac
3.0★ · 02/24/26
Wait Michael Caine is in this
There are few words that spring to mind with Steven Seagal. Usually the words are “who is he?” Or “what are you doing in my bedroom?”
This is one of few actual films Seagal did and boy is it shit. He directed, starred and produced it. I was surprised he didn’t write it by how shit it was.
His character Forrest Taft is a CIA agent undercover as an environmental protection agent. The man who looks after the environment is called “Forrest”. Jesus. It doesn’t even make sense that he is CIA because they’re not allowed to operate on American soil and the film is set in Alaska. His job is to figure out what Michael Caine is doing with his new fancy oil refinery. The plot was so interesting I completely forgot it.
Seagals characters is about as interesting and compelling as watching paint dry. He just acts tough and is trying to act cool. He is not.
Michael Caine is the only thing good in this film because his character is so comically bad that it’s funny to watch this brilliant actor try his hardest. He’s just pissed off at people half the time but I’m not sure if he was acting at the time. He also seems to have developed the ability to change the shade of his hair colour between scenes (or no one noticed when he re-dyed his hair). Doctor Cox from SCRUBS plays his henchmen who is a fucking moron. Also Billy Bob Thornton is in this?
I lied when I said that Michael Caine was the only good thing. Basil Poledouris gives a good score to a wet fart of a movie. He has done scores for actually good films but this is not one of them E.G. Robocop, Starship Troopers, Conan the Barbarian.
In short:
Acting - shite
Writing - shite
Plot - boring af
Shots - meh
Stunts - alright surprisingly
Music - pretty decent
The films overall message is that oil tycoons are bad. Cheers Steven we already knew that and your running is shit.
There are few words that spring to mind with Steven Seagal. Usually the words are “who is he?” Or “what are you doing in my bedroom?”
This is one of few actual films Seagal did and boy is it shit. He directed, starred and produced it. I was surprised he didn’t write it by how shit it was.
His character Forrest Taft is a CIA agent undercover as an environmental protection agent. The man who looks after the environment is called “Forrest”. Jesus. It doesn’t even make sense that he is CIA because they’re not allowed to operate on American soil and the film is set in Alaska. His job is to figure out what Michael Caine is doing with his new fancy oil refinery. The plot was so interesting I completely forgot it.
Seagals characters is about as interesting and compelling as watching paint dry. He just acts tough and is trying to act cool. He is not.
Michael Caine is the only thing good in this film because his character is so comically bad that it’s funny to watch this brilliant actor try his hardest. He’s just pissed off at people half the time but I’m not sure if he was acting at the time. He also seems to have developed the ability to change the shade of his hair colour between scenes (or no one noticed when he re-dyed his hair). Doctor Cox from SCRUBS plays his henchmen who is a fucking moron. Also Billy Bob Thornton is in this?
I lied when I said that Michael Caine was the only good thing. Basil Poledouris gives a good score to a wet fart of a movie. He has done scores for actually good films but this is not one of them E.G. Robocop, Starship Troopers, Conan the Barbarian.
In short:
Acting - shite
Writing - shite
Plot - boring af
Shots - meh
Stunts - alright surprisingly
Music - pretty decent
The films overall message is that oil tycoons are bad. Cheers Steven we already knew that and your running is shit.
Wait Michael Caine is in this
There are few words that spring to mind with Steven Seagal. Usually the words are “who is he?” Or “what are you doing in my bedroom?”
This is one of few actual films Seagal did and boy is it shit. He directed, starred and produced it. I was surprised he didn’t write it by how shit it was.
His character Forrest Taft is a CIA agent undercover as an environmental protection agent. The man who looks after the environment is called “Forrest”. Jesus. It doesn’t even make sense that he is CIA because they’re not allowed to operate on American soil and the film is set in Alaska. His job is to figure out what Michael Caine is doing with his new fancy oil refinery. The plot was so interesting I completely forgot it.
Seagals characters is about as interesting and compelling as watching paint dry. He just acts tough and is trying to act cool. He is not.
Michael Caine is the only thing good in this film because his character is so comically bad that it’s funny to watch this brilliant actor try his hardest. He’s just pissed off at people half the time but I’m not sure if he was acting at the time. He also seems to have developed the ability to change the shade of his hair colour between scenes (or no one noticed when he re-dyed his hair). Doctor Cox from SCRUBS plays his henchmen who is a fucking moron. Also Billy Bob Thornton is in this?
I lied when I said that Michael Caine was the only good thing. Basil Poledouris gives a good score to a wet fart of a movie. He has done scores for actually good films but this is not one of them E.G. Robocop, Starship Troopers, Conan the Barbarian.
In short:
Acting - shite
Writing - shite
Plot - boring af
Shots - meh
Stunts - alright surprisingly
Music - pretty decent
The films overall message is that oil tycoons are bad. Cheers Steven we already knew that and your running is shit.
There are few words that spring to mind with Steven Seagal. Usually the words are “who is he?” Or “what are you doing in my bedroom?”
This is one of few actual films Seagal did and boy is it shit. He directed, starred and produced it. I was surprised he didn’t write it by how shit it was.
His character Forrest Taft is a CIA agent undercover as an environmental protection agent. The man who looks after the environment is called “Forrest”. Jesus. It doesn’t even make sense that he is CIA because they’re not allowed to operate on American soil and the film is set in Alaska. His job is to figure out what Michael Caine is doing with his new fancy oil refinery. The plot was so interesting I completely forgot it.
Seagals characters is about as interesting and compelling as watching paint dry. He just acts tough and is trying to act cool. He is not.
Michael Caine is the only thing good in this film because his character is so comically bad that it’s funny to watch this brilliant actor try his hardest. He’s just pissed off at people half the time but I’m not sure if he was acting at the time. He also seems to have developed the ability to change the shade of his hair colour between scenes (or no one noticed when he re-dyed his hair). Doctor Cox from SCRUBS plays his henchmen who is a fucking moron. Also Billy Bob Thornton is in this?
I lied when I said that Michael Caine was the only good thing. Basil Poledouris gives a good score to a wet fart of a movie. He has done scores for actually good films but this is not one of them E.G. Robocop, Starship Troopers, Conan the Barbarian.
In short:
Acting - shite
Writing - shite
Plot - boring af
Shots - meh
Stunts - alright surprisingly
Music - pretty decent
The films overall message is that oil tycoons are bad. Cheers Steven we already knew that and your running is shit.
Skipp
9.0★ · 08/26/25
I’m a firm believer in the idea that anyone who makes movies has one truly great film in them. A film so great that it’s the defining masterpiece of their career. For example - George Lucas has Star Wars. Orson Welles had Citizen Kane. Charlie Chaplin had The Great Dictator.
Steven Seagal has On Deadly Ground.
When it came out in 1994 it was notable for three things: first, it was Seagal’s first attempt at directing (and remains his only directing credit on a non-documentary). Second, it was marketed as an environmental thriller - a term I don’t think has been uttered in Hollywood before or since. Third, it was the first flop in Seagal’s career, and marked a general downhill trend theatrically until Seagal went mostly direct-to-video. It’s a shame that it all happened this way, because I actually thought this was Seagal’s most serious and topical film. A lot of his ending monologue still remains ever so relevant, and audiences at the time made fun of him for it because he delivered it the only way he knew how to - a multi-minute monologue. What more do you want from the man after he blew up a refinery? The action is there, the story is captivating, the only weak spot is the mysticism is a bit confusing. That can be easily forgiven given the rest of the film.
I appreciate how shockingly anti-capitalism this is, as Michael Caine proves to be a bit of a cartoonish villain. It still gets the message across.
In a just world this would be considered a great film. In my mind it is. I can only wonder what the path of Seagal looks like if this was a success.
Steven Seagal has On Deadly Ground.
When it came out in 1994 it was notable for three things: first, it was Seagal’s first attempt at directing (and remains his only directing credit on a non-documentary). Second, it was marketed as an environmental thriller - a term I don’t think has been uttered in Hollywood before or since. Third, it was the first flop in Seagal’s career, and marked a general downhill trend theatrically until Seagal went mostly direct-to-video. It’s a shame that it all happened this way, because I actually thought this was Seagal’s most serious and topical film. A lot of his ending monologue still remains ever so relevant, and audiences at the time made fun of him for it because he delivered it the only way he knew how to - a multi-minute monologue. What more do you want from the man after he blew up a refinery? The action is there, the story is captivating, the only weak spot is the mysticism is a bit confusing. That can be easily forgiven given the rest of the film.
I appreciate how shockingly anti-capitalism this is, as Michael Caine proves to be a bit of a cartoonish villain. It still gets the message across.
In a just world this would be considered a great film. In my mind it is. I can only wonder what the path of Seagal looks like if this was a success.
I’m a firm believer in the idea that anyone who makes movies has one truly great film in them. A film so great that it’s the defining masterpiece of their career. For example - George Lucas has Star Wars. Orson Welles had Citizen Kane. Charlie Chaplin had The Great Dictator.
Steven Seagal has On Deadly Ground.
When it came out in 1994 it was notable for three things: first, it was Seagal’s first attempt at directing (and remains his only directing credit on a non-documentary). Second, it was marketed as an environmental thriller - a term I don’t think has been uttered in Hollywood before or since. Third, it was the first flop in Seagal’s career, and marked a general downhill trend theatrically until Seagal went mostly direct-to-video. It’s a shame that it all happened this way, because I actually thought this was Seagal’s most serious and topical film. A lot of his ending monologue still remains ever so relevant, and audiences at the time made fun of him for it because he delivered it the only way he knew how to - a multi-minute monologue. What more do you want from the man after he blew up a refinery? The action is there, the story is captivating, the only weak spot is the mysticism is a bit confusing. That can be easily forgiven given the rest of the film.
I appreciate how shockingly anti-capitalism this is, as Michael Caine proves to be a bit of a cartoonish villain. It still gets the message across.
In a just world this would be considered a great film. In my mind it is. I can only wonder what the path of Seagal looks like if this was a success.
Steven Seagal has On Deadly Ground.
When it came out in 1994 it was notable for three things: first, it was Seagal’s first attempt at directing (and remains his only directing credit on a non-documentary). Second, it was marketed as an environmental thriller - a term I don’t think has been uttered in Hollywood before or since. Third, it was the first flop in Seagal’s career, and marked a general downhill trend theatrically until Seagal went mostly direct-to-video. It’s a shame that it all happened this way, because I actually thought this was Seagal’s most serious and topical film. A lot of his ending monologue still remains ever so relevant, and audiences at the time made fun of him for it because he delivered it the only way he knew how to - a multi-minute monologue. What more do you want from the man after he blew up a refinery? The action is there, the story is captivating, the only weak spot is the mysticism is a bit confusing. That can be easily forgiven given the rest of the film.
I appreciate how shockingly anti-capitalism this is, as Michael Caine proves to be a bit of a cartoonish villain. It still gets the message across.
In a just world this would be considered a great film. In my mind it is. I can only wonder what the path of Seagal looks like if this was a success.
Nymand
4.0★ · 01/05/25
Okay, Seagal spiller stadig som vådt pap, men nogle ok actionscener. Lowkey ikke et dårligt instruktør-debut
Okay, Seagal spiller stadig som vådt pap, men nogle ok actionscener. Lowkey ikke et dårligt instruktør-debut
Jordo
3.5★ · 05/07/24
Looking for Billy Bob I always forget he was a chubster for this and Tombstone
Steven Segal has no right being near a camera and I could totally beat him up now
Steven Segal has no right being near a camera and I could totally beat him up now
Looking for Billy Bob I always forget he was a chubster for this and Tombstone
Steven Segal has no right being near a camera and I could totally beat him up now
Steven Segal has no right being near a camera and I could totally beat him up now