Who would win in a fight… A Rogue Lion or Idris Elba? The answer may be seemingly obvious, but Baltasar Kormákur’s Beast proves that neither Man or Beast should be underestimated. In this utterly gripping and visually captivating survival story, we learn just how far humans and animals are willing to go for the sake of their family. Univeral Pictures will be bringing Beast to the big screen from today, so what are you waiting for?
Synopsis
Idris Elba plays Dr. Nate Daniels, a recently widowed husband who returns to South Africa, where he first met his wife, on a long-planned trip with their daughters to a game reserve managed by Martin Battles (Sharlto Copley), an old family friend and wildlife biologist. But what begins as a journey of healing jolts into a fearsome fight for survival when a lion, a survivor of blood-thirsty poachers who now sees all humans as the enemy, begins stalking them.
Review
The entire concept of “Man vs Beast” has been around for decades. Films, shows, games, and pretty much every form of media has presented us with a scenario where someone has to fight for their life against a predator. The food chain is tested and the natural order is disturbed. Despite being used many many times, this concept is still incredibly successful and effective. We’ve seen people go up against bears, sharks, wolves, and beyond this world we’ve also seen aliens and monsters join the hunt. It is quite simply a timeless narrative, and Beast is another fine example that illustrates why this subgenre is so beloved.
One of the best things that Beast does, which can be incredibly difficult for certain films that have a short runtime and are completely absorbed by creating action, is present us with a well grounded and likeable family dynamic. Haunted by the loss of his wife, Nate takes his two daughters to Africa to reconnect with their late mother. They are all grieving in their own way and this trip is an attempt to heal these wounds that have grown purely out of grief. What Baltasar and the writers do so well is establish a balanced narrative. There is heart, there is gried and pain, but there is also fear and adrenaline. The lion’s presence is felt throughout Beast just like the family’s own internal struggles- they don’t consume one another. The pain and trauma that the Samuels family feels remains consistent and dictates a lot of their decisions… Even the really questionable ones.
The family dynamic that is brought to life by Elba, Leah Jeffries, and Iyana Hally feels sincere and raw. They are playful with each other, yet the cracks quickly reveal themselves. Elba has a lot of fun with this role, bouncing from the overprotective father, to the fun dad, and then to the father confronting his own demons. The chemistry he has with this fictional family is fantastic which only added to the overall experience. These are loveable and relatable characters and because of that you instantly fall for them. While Idris was indeed at the centre as the heroic father, it was Jefferies and Hally that took the spotlight as Norah and Meredith. The sisters act like typical sisters, squabbling and arguing, but when it comes down to the actual threat they always have each other’s back. It was great to see, and their continous presence was both humourous and heart-warming.
Now, moving away from the family… Let’s address the elephant in the room, or the Lion. Beast did two things that completely separates it from other films that fall under the same umbrella. Number 1, it was filmed entirely in Africa. Number 2, it gave us an antagonist that was not only an outstanding display of what CGI can do when implemented correctly, but also a creature that you can understand.
Despite being in an age of evolving technologies that can create augmented realities that literally transport us to new worlds, Beast decided to completely ignore that and pursue a more authentic mode of movie-making. By taking us into the heart of Africa, Beast quickly became an immersive experience that was further enhanced by Baltasar’s long and sweeping shots. You’re in the action with these characters and you feel every moment. In its essence, Beast is the purest form of escapism, but it is stylised to feel real and grounded. While we do spend a majority of the film inside a jeep and with the characters, the natural world surrounding them just adds this visceral and brutal feeling of isolation. The decision to film in Africa elevates Beast in regards to its visual aesthetic, which sways from beautiful to scary very quickly, it also highlights the impressive achievement that is the rogue lion…
CGI has never been more prevalent in cinema. We’re at a stage where anything and everything can be created and digitised. But we’re also at a stage where audiences can isolate and identify fragments that can be considered “bad CGI”. Particular audiences have even argued that we’re regressing in terms of quality… And when looking at certain big budget movies it’s difficult not to agree. However, there has never been a better CGI Lion in cinema than the ones created for Beast. Not only do they look absolutely fantastic, but they also feel incredibly real. The way they move, act, and interact with their surrounding environments feel authentic. This powerful rogue lion has its own characteristics and mannerisms that have all been digitally created. But the fact it is digital takes nothing away from the fear it evokes because it never slips up. There is not a single moment where this lion looks overtly fake. In fact, there are moments where it’s actually difficult to believe that a group of people created this character. Going back to the decision to shoot on location, it actually helped make the lion feel more natural because everything else around it was natural.
Much like Spielberg’s iconic Jaws, Beast does a brilliant job at plunging the audience and characters deep into the action, and it really uses that as a tool to fool the audience. What’s great about utilising a lion in Africa is that there are a lot of fun little teases you can implement and Beast fully exploits them. It’s somewhat difficult to track the lion due to the environment and this lion’s superiority in terms of knowing the territory. Is the lion on screen right now? Which direction will the lion come from next? And what games is this lion playing? Beast keeps you completely engrossed because it plays with the mystery. On top of that, Baltasar’s long and often shakey shots force you to scan the surrounding area. It’s like you’re hunting for the lion before it can reveal itself.
Verdict
Beast is a thrilling ride through Africa that is utterly captivating. It knows how to capture your attention, and it knows how to keep it. It’s fun, endearing, tense, and visually stunning. What makes Beast stand out, outside of the amazing work done by the VFX team, is that it gives us a grounded story with very real characters, and beyond that it actually blurs the boundaries of good and bad. While we are definitely rooting for Nate and his family, it’s hard not to support the killer lion. Is he really an antagonist? Or is he a product of our own creation? It’s an interesting dynamic that adds a lot to the already brutal nature of Beast.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
From visceral, experiential filmmaker Baltasar Kormákur, comes Beast which is looking to give audiences a well needed scare. The film is produced by Will Packer, James Lopez, and Baltasar Kormákur. Ryan Engle wrote Beast from an original story by Jaime Primak Sullivan. It will be executive produced by Jaime Primak Sullivan and Bernard Bellew.
Who will reign victorious? Man or beast? Find out when Beast charges into cinemas on August 26th. Will you be checking out Beast when it arrives? Make sure you let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Don’t forget, you can check out our epic interviews with director Baltasar Kormákur and producer Will Packer.
