"Heatstroke" is a film that may remind you of other films--especially if you are a film nut like me. it's a reworking of the basic premise of "Run of the Arrow" from 1957. A few years later, "The Naked Prey" took this story and transported it to South Africa. Later, the same plot was reworked by Mel Gibson in "Apocalypto"--this time in Central America. Now, with "Heatstroke", the plot once again returns to South Africa. Fortunately, although it has been recycled many times, the basic story idea is exciting and worth your time.

A divorced man who studies hyenas is set to take his girlfriend with him to South Africa to once again work in the field with these creatures. However, just before they leave, he receives a call from his ex-wife-- who is frantic because their daughter is having serious problems. So, reluctantly, the dad agrees to take the kid with him on this trip. Unfortunately, this does NOT result in some wonderful bonding experiences, the girl is incredibly obnoxious. On one hand you can understand this since she comes from a broken home. But, on the other, there's no excuse for being this obnoxious and disaffected. So, after a few days, they can't take any more and agree to send the girl back home to her mother--and the teen can't wait to get away from Africa.

So far, none of this sound much like the other films I mentioned. However, on the way back to civilization, the film quickly becomes much like these other movie--these people suddenly are in a struggle for their lives as they're being pursued by folks intent on killing them. Who are these nasty killers? They are gun runners and poachers--and after the family accidentally happens upon them in action, they are now the prey of these sick fiends. However, survival won't be easy. Not only do they have these murderers chasing them after they killed the father, but the two women must contend with no water, no food as well as being exposed to the elements. Additionally, the hyenas they were studying might just see them as food!

Aside from Stephen Dorff who plays the father who is murdered, most of the cast are unknown to me and will probably be unknown to you. However, this does not mean that they are ineffective in their roles-- the cast do a very nice job. Plus, I appreciate that this must have been a very tough shoot due to their working in the middle of nowhere. While I have spent a lot of time in South Africa where the movie was shot, I deliberately avoided the inhospitable region where they filmed "Heatstroke" (believe me, there are a lot of wonderful places there which really need to be seen first!).

Despite a bit of cursing and violence, this is a pretty good family film provided the kids are older. Well directed and acted, this film is worth a look. And, if you get a chance, see if you can find a copy of "The Naked Prey"--it's rather forgotten but seems to make the most of this simple story idea.

Paul( Stephen Dorfff) lives, breathes, and teaches about hyenas. His girlfriend Tally (Svetlana Metkina) is a one woman Peace Corp traveling the globe helping people out wherever they need it. Paul is headed back to the grassland/desert with Tally when circumstances and his ex-wife demands he take his brooding 13 year old daughter, Jo ( Maisie Williams) with him. She of course creates internal conflict because Tally is to blame for her parents being apart, etc., etc.

As the film progresses, they come across poachers and are in a fight for their lives as they have seen and know too much. You know the formula.

This is the old two people are forced to bond in a bad situation action-drama. How well you like it is going to depend on how well you like or identify with the two lead female characters. There isn't much else happening. We needed something to bring the film full circle, i.e. something they said or did at the beginning of the film, saves them at the end...and it should concern a hyena...but it didn't.

Hyenas, poachers, and critters were the bigger problems than the heat which they seemed to handle effectively, but I guess "Heatstroke" tested better than "When Poachers Go Bad."

Parental Guide: Infrequent F-bomb, brief opening sex scene, no nudity.

Research scientist Paul (a solid performance by Stephen Dorff),his new Russian girlfriend Tally (winningly played with plenty of pluck by the foxy Svetlana Metkina),and his bitter estranged teenage daughter Josie (a nicely feisty portrayal by Maisie Williams) run afoul of illegal arms dealers in the African desert.

Director/co-writer Evelyn Purcell relates the absorbing story at a constant pace, takes time to develop the three main characters, maintains a tough gritty tone throughout, and generates a good deal of tension. Moreover, the way the dire situation brings the initially combative Tally and Josie closer together gives this film some extra depth and heart, with an especially touching pay-off for the pair at the end. Peter Stormare makes for a perfectly hateful head villain as the ruthless Mallick. Ben Nott's crisp widescreen cinematography vividly captures the unsparingly harsh sweltering heat of the desolate desert environment. Worth a watch.