Michael Haussman

(On Cable TV, February 2022) Considering the very long history of colonialist films, I really shouldn’t be criticizing Edge of the World all that much for its critical look at the British rule over its far-flung empire, especially when it’s lushly located in Malaysia (meant to be the historical Raj of Sarawak) and taking as a premise the existence of a white ruler after a series of events. It’s all in the jungle, confronting the realities of British imperialism and characters finding their own direction so far away from London. Boasting some impressive cinematography, complex performances and a story with a built-in hook for western viewers (it’s adapted from a true story that also led to the classic The Man Who Would be King), Edge of the World nonetheless fails to achieve much of its potential. To put it bluntly, it’s not particularly interesting. The script wastes the elements at its disposal, and the result feels like a spoon-fed history lesson. I expect opinions to vary widely depending on personal preferences—but director Michael Haussman can’t make the result as snappy or compelling as it should be, and that feels like a missed opportunity. It feels like a twenty-first century film about colonial history, though, so not quite a complete waste.