Max Beyond Digital Release Review

4 star action packed animated sci-fi adventure.

Max Beyond is a 2024 animated science-fiction feature film co-written by Stavros Pamballis (Shirley Adams) and Hasraf Dullul (2026 Origin Unknown), who also directs and co-produces alongside Paula Crickard (Memory, Winter).

Created using Unreal Engine, this film is designed to introduce the viewers to the characters and concept for the upcoming spinoff videogame, due for release in mid 2025.

It is available on UK Digital Platforms from 22nd April 2024, courtesy of HaZimation.

“Leon. Leon, listen to me. There is no way out. If you stop now, you can still walk away from this. Max needs help. We’re running out of time. Please, let me help him.”

It’s Christmas Eve in Nova City and the public are protesting in the streets outside the Headquarters of the Axion corporation. Inside the building, a young boy named Max Walker (Cade Tropeano – Eureka, The Girl Who Got Away) is being experimented on under the supervision of Doctor Ava Johnson (Jane Perry – Cyberpunk 2077, Baldur’s Gate 3). He is part of their Quantum Science Research Project, known as the Rift Program, and part of the reason for the demonstration outside.

Recently returned from the war and suffering from PTSD, Max’s brother Leon Walker (Dave Fennoy – Starfield, Destiny 2: Lightfall) has come to visit. When Max has a seizure and Leon realises he is being experimented on, he resolves to break him out of Axion. But, their security forces are suspiciously sophisticated for a scientific facility and he is killed in the attempt.

This is where Max’s power comes in, he can switch to a new reality to find one with a different outcome. Each time he tries it weakens him and it always seems to result in the death of Leon. Can he find the reality in which Leon succeeds in the rescue before it’s too late?

“Leon, we’ve done this before. We never make it out.”

Max Beyond is a very enjoyable film, with glorious animation. It’s beautifully drawn and colourful with some really good action sequences. With it’s 15 certificate, this one isn’t aimed a children and the concept requires a degree of concentration to understand.

If you are a gamer, then this is quite exciting, although it looks as though the game will be quite difficult, there are some serious opponents to face. It will be interesting to see how Max’s power will be used by the gamer, but Leon has lots of nifty moves that look like they will be good fun.

Even if you are not a gamer, this is still a good watch for fans of animated action films, with a great story and plenty to keep the interest. Well worth a watch.

“We never found out who did it, or what they wanted. The police said t was just some thieves who got jumpy. That they weren’t planning on us coming home when we did.”