You probably think of the year 2000 when you hear the title The Patriot. You picture Mel Gibson with a hatchet and a flag. But two years before that big-budget epic hit theaters, there was another Patriot—this one starring a man who was, at the time, the reigning king of the direct-to-video aisle.
Steven Seagal.
It’s kinda fascinating, honestly. This movie marks a massive turning point in Seagal's career. It’s the moment the wheels started to wobble on the "major movie star" wagon and he began his long, strange journey into the world of low-budget, high-concept thrillers shot in places like Montana and Bulgaria.
Why The Patriot Steven Seagal Release Mattered
Most people don't realize this was Seagal’s first movie to skip a wide theatrical release in the United States. Before this, he was a box-office titan. Under Siege made him a household name. Above the Law and Hard to Kill were staples of the action genre.
But then came 1998.
The movie was directed by Dean Semler, a legendary cinematographer who actually won an Oscar for Dances with Wolves. You can tell, too. Despite the budget being significantly lower than Seagal’s previous hits like The Glimmer Man, the film looks gorgeous. It’s got these sweeping vistas of the Montana landscape that make it feel way more expensive than it actually was.
The Strange Plot of the "Peaceful" Doctor
In The Patriot, Seagal plays Dr. Wesley McClaren. He's not just a doctor, though. He’s a former government research immunologist (of course he is) who now lives a quiet life in Ennis, Montana. He’s a holistic healer. He takes payment in the form of blackberry pies.
👉 See also: The Entire History of You: What Most People Get Wrong About the Grain
He's basically a saint with a ponytail.
The conflict kicks off when a local militia leader named Floyd Chisolm, played by Gailard Sartain, decides to unleash a deadly biological virus called NAM-37. Chisolm believes he has the vaccine, but—oops—it doesn't actually work. Soon, the whole town is dying, and only Seagal’s character can save the day.
Fact-Checking the History
One of the weirdest things about The Patriot is that it’s technically based on a book. It’s loosely—and I mean very loosely—adapted from a novel called The Last Canadian by William C. Heine.
If you’ve read the book, you’ll find almost zero similarities. No shared characters. No shared locations. Just the core idea of a deadly virus. Seagal and the producers essentially took the title and the "outbreak" premise and built an entirely different ego-vehicle around it.
It's also worth noting the "action" in this film is... sparse. If you’re watching a Seagal movie to see him break twenty arms in five minutes, you’re going to be disappointed. He spends a lot of time talking about herbs and Native American medicine.
The Environmentalist Thread
This wasn't just a random choice for Seagal. He was deeply into his "environmental warrior" phase during the late 90s.
✨ Don't miss: Shamea Morton and the Real Housewives of Atlanta: What Really Happened to Her Peach
- On Deadly Ground (1994): He fought big oil in Alaska.
- Fire Down Below (1997): He fought toxic waste dumpers in Kentucky.
- The Patriot (1998): He fought biological warfare in Montana.
In The Patriot, the solution to the virus isn't some high-tech government lab. It’s a specific wild herb used by Native American healers. Seagal’s character realizes that his daughter and a local woman, Ann White Cloud, are immune because they’ve been drinking a particular tea.
It’s a very "Seagal-esque" message: Western medicine failed, but nature and ancient wisdom provided the cure.
What Really Happened Behind the Scenes
The production was reportedly a bit of a mess. This was the first film produced by Seagal/Nasso Productions after Seagal split from Warner Bros. Without the backing of a major studio, the budget was tight.
They shot the whole thing in about eight weeks. Most of it was filmed in Ennis and Virginia City, Montana. At one point, they had to stop filming to manually remove snow from the ground because it ruined the continuity of a scene.
The Patriot also features a very young Camilla Belle as Seagal’s daughter. She would go on to have a solid career, but here she’s mostly there to be protected by her invincible father.
The Critical Reception
Critics weren't kind. At all.
But within the Seagal fandom, the movie holds a special place. Vern, the famous "Seagalogy" author who literally wrote the book on Seagal’s career, argues that it’s actually an "admirable effort." The acting is better than what came later, and the cinematography is genuinely top-tier.
🔗 Read more: Who is Really in the Enola Holmes 2 Cast? A Look at the Faces Behind the Mystery
The problem for fans was the lack of punching. Seagal only has a few fight scenes. The most famous bit is the ending where he uses a broken wineglass stem against the villain. It's a sudden burst of classic Seagal violence in a movie that is otherwise surprisingly quiet.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Collectors
If you're looking to dive into the Seagal filmography, The Patriot is an essential stop, but you need to go in with the right mindset.
- Don't expect Under Siege: This is a slow-burn thriller, not a high-octane action flick.
- Watch the scenery: If you’re a fan of Westerns or beautiful cinematography, Dean Semler’s work here is the best part of the movie.
- Look for the German Dub: Fun fact for international fans—in the German version, Seagal is voiced by Manfred Lehmann, who is the regular voice for Bruce Willis. It's the only time that ever happened.
- Check the Title: Don't confuse it with the Mel Gibson movie. If you're searching on streaming services, look for the 1998 release date.
Basically, The Patriot is the bridge. On one side, you have the A-list Hollywood star. On the other, you have the direct-to-video icon. It’s a weird, beautiful, herb-filled mess that perfectly encapsulates who Steven Seagal was trying to be in the late 90s: a healer, a warrior, and a protector of the Earth.
If you want to see the exact moment the "traditional" action hero died and the "modern" Seagal was born, this is the film to watch. Grab some herbal tea, skip the expectations of a high-speed chase, and just enjoy the Montana views.
To get the most out of your viewing, try to find the original widescreen DVD release rather than the cropped television versions often found on budget streaming platforms. The 2.35:1 aspect ratio is crucial for appreciating Semler’s landscape photography.
Next Steps:
Locate a high-definition digital copy or the original DVD release of the 1998 film to ensure you are seeing the full-frame cinematography by Dean Semler. Compare the pacing of this film to Seagal's earlier work like Marked for Death to understand the shift in his career trajectory toward more character-driven (and slower-paced) environmental thrillers.