Director: Baltasar Korma`kur
Writer: Ryan Engle
Cast: Idris Elba, Leah Jeffries, Iyana Halley, and Sharlto Copley
Recent widower Dr. Nate Samuels takes his teenage daughters on safari in Africa. Their time in the bush is majestic until they stumble across a man on the road. He warns them of a devil nearby, and despite his cryptic warning they forge ahead to a ravaged village and come face to face with a rabid lion. They try desperately to escape and in their haste, wreck their vehicle, and lose all communication and their guide. Trapped in the bush with a demented predator on their trail the grief-stricken family must rely on their instincts and each other to make it out alive.
If you’ve ever seen a movie with a killer animal coming after humans you know what to expect. In films like this, it’s about the journey, we already know how it ends. In Beast, the journey to the ultimate man vs beast showdown is filled with dull dialogue and predictable angst. Most of the talking centers on The Samuels family and their grief process. Early on the eldest daughter reveals her resentment towards her dad via a forced dinner table argument. This lays the groundwork for her recklessly defiant behavior throughout the film. In more than one scene he defies her father’s orders constantly leaving her younger sibling while she rushes off to provide “help” no one asked for. Obviously, she’s the most like her mother. The youngest of the Samuels is our peacemaker and arguably the most logical. She stays put and does what she’s told. She wants everyone to get along. Despite her fear she manages to be more of an asset and even has a shining moment tranquilizing the lion to save dear old dad. Next is their family friend “Uncle Martin” who hosts their trip to the bush. He is a nature enthusiast with a few secrets of his own, the biggest of which derails a rescue attempt. Lastly, we have Dr. Samuels, the surprisingly rugged New York City doctor whose back story includes some time in Africa. Though he appears to be taking his wife’s death well he is plagued by nightmares of her calling out to him in the distance. None of this matters, in the long run, it’s all just padding to stretch out the real story about a vengeful Lion’s unnatural desire to kill for fun.
Our furry antagonists have the most unfortunate backstory, of them all, his entire pride was murdered and as the lone survivor, he’s on a murderous rampage killing any humans that cross his path. Any story about African wildlife must include a reference to poachers, obviously, the poachers are the Lion’s primary target but blinded by rage and grief the lion seeks out all humans. Honestly, with a story this deep I half expected the beast to speak for itself. Hearing the booming voice of James Earl Jones coming out of the CGI would have been a welcome surprise. Despite its lack of lines, the Lion does a decent job of being a terrifying force to be reckoned with.
All things considered, Beast is a fairly decent film. As long as you’re not expecting a masterpiece, you won’t be too disappointed. It’s a straightforward man vs nature farce that pits two of nature’s most deadly predators against each other all for the sake of family. The humans are fighting for the survival of their family and the lion avenges his. Beast opens on August 19th!