Recently widowed Dr. Nate Daniels and his two teenage daughters travel to a South African game reserve managed by Martin Battles, an old family friend and wildlife biologist. However, what begins as a journey of healing soon turns into a fearsome fight for survival when a lion, a survivor of bloodthirsty poachers, begins stalking them.
Director: Baltasar Kormákur
Cast: Idris Elba, Iyana Halley, Leah Sava Jeffries, Sharlto Copley
Release Date: August 19, 2022
Genre: Adventure, Drama, Horror, Thriller
Rated R for violent content, bloody images and some language.
Runtime: 1h 33m
Review:
Beast is a lean, straightforward but brain dead animal attack thriller that's engaging enough to keep your attention during it's brisk runtime. Baltasar Kormákur directs the film with a steady hand, establishing the landscape and players early on before moving on to the mayhem everyone knows is coming. The script provides the thinnest of characterization for Idris Elba's character, he's trying to connect with his daughter after the loss of his wife, while providing nearly none for a criminally underused Sharlto Copley. Elba for his part is fully committed here and elevates the material as best he can. This film isn't concerned with it character's as much as building tension for some well scripted set up which make the central CGI animal feel like a tangible menace. The film's at its strongest during these sequences thanks to strong directions and staging. Unfortunately, this is the kind of film where character's continue making abjectly stupid decisions which put them in harm's way. It's brisk pace makes it easier to overlook some of these issues if not entirely. Beast works as a mindless empty calorie fun but those looking for a better lion attack film might be better checking out 1996's The Ghost and the Darkness.
C+
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