Matty’s notes on an attention-holding heist caper.

After narrowly dodging death during his last heist, expert safecracker Nelson (Peter Weller) ditches crime in favour of operating a grungy diner. However, when a kooky loan shark (Pierre Malherbe) puts the squeeze on Nelson’s poker-loving brother (Angus Macfadyen) over a gambling debt, the lure of one final job proves impossible to resist…

Though elemental and offering little in the way of surprises, STYX is a sturdy and well-told caper. Penned by George Ferris – a journeyman whose output includes scripts for erotic thriller titan Jag Mundhra (Irresistible Impulse (1996) and Tainted Love (1996)), PM Entertainment (Running Red (1999)), and minor league B-movie auteur Ruben Preuss (Snowbound (2001)) – what the narrative lacks in freshness it makes up for in pace and, on occasion, splendidly tart dialogue.

Having starred in The Contaminated Man (2000) for Styx’s producers, Promark, Weller is his usual dependable self and submits a compelling performance matched by Bryan Brown’s pleasingly snarling turn as Nelson’s duplicitous counterpart, Art. Macfadyen offers fair support but his role — replete with some of the worst painted-on arm tattoos in cinema history — is substantially flatter than Weller and Brown’s characters. Malherbe, meanwhile, is really something. I’d be loath to say he’s ‘good’ per se but the actor cuts a memorable and weirdly threatening figure, all squawking, strutting and gurning. With Styx being lensed on location in Cape Town, Malherbe is among several South African talents used on the film, both in front of and behind the camera. Their combined resumes feature a wealth of notable DTV titles shot across the Rainbow Nation: Curse III: Blood Sacrifice (1991), Shadowchaser: The Gates of Time (1996), Second Skin (2000), Consequence (2003), Blast (2004), Wake of Death (2004), and Free Willy: Escape From Pirate’s Cove (2010).             

Anchored by the kind of sincerity lacking in a lot of its ilk (Ferris largely eschews the needless profanity and endless pop culture references typical of many post-Tarantino crime sagas), Styx is bolstered by Alex Wright’s energetic direction. A la Ferris, Wright is a journeyman; a genre-hopper capable of flitting between thrills (Fast Money (1996)), flesh (The First 9 ½ Weeks (1998)), and, more recently, Hallmark Channel programmers (Once Upon a Prince (2018), Hope at Christmas (2018)). He’s also responsible for writing the flawed but not entirely worthless horror sequel, Wishmaster 3: Beyond the Gates of Hell (2001). Despite struggling with a couple of cheap-looking sets, Styx finds the helmer in fine stead. He unleashes an engaging experience, delivering a film that’s robustly executed and often visually interesting — if knowingly showy here and there.

In keeping with Promark stablemates Last Run (2001) and Federal Protection (2002), Styx landed on video and DVD in the U.S. as a Blockbuster exclusive via Promark’s distribution deal with the rental giant’s companies, DEJ Productions and City Heat. Advanced copies were circulated by another key DEJ collaborator, Lionsgate (specifically, their home entertainment subdivision Avalanche), and the film hit store shelves on 16th October 2001. Styx arrived in the U.K. in early ‘02 through fellow Promark regular, High Fliers.

USA/South Africa/Germany ● 2001 ● Thriller ● 89mins

Peter Weller, Bryan Brown, Angus Macfadyen ● Dir. Alex Wright  ● Wri. George Ferris