Beast

OFF_FRAME

Chemistry, chemistry, chemistry!! Excellent performances from the leads here in this sumptuous, tense drama where danger is ever present, bubbling just below the surface. I wasn't completely sold on the town's response to the killer at large but as a character study of a woman battling her demons it's solid. 4 stars

revelintheview

Why aren't people giving more of a shit about this? The female interrogator scene was effective but maybe the only aspect of the film that didn't ring true (I assume because the writer/director is a man). Otherwise, this was disturbing, thrilling, ambiguous, well-edited, and beautifully lensed, and it features two of the most committed and convincing lead performances of the year so far.

Adam Whybray

3.6 stars. Jessie Buckley is transfixing in this thorny film that comes at you like a slowly-fading migraine. In its over-determined but emotionally truthful symbolism and fairytale naturalism it reminded me a lot of Joyce Carol Oates. If you liked 'Broadchurch' but wished it had a twitchier moral compass and more soil and sex, you'll love this! Johnny Flynn simultaneously looked really pretty and really smelly.

chazell

in two minds with this one, the trailer a solid 4 stars and built me up with a bubbly belly, but the actual film was a slow deflate in trying to enjoy flynn's dry acting, and the usual tick list of **cinematic tropes in contemporary cinema*; slow building music that suddenly cuts, dramatic choirs, screams that cannot be heard, cringe slow dancing etcetc. big shame for a film that had such high potential.

wi.bi

Watching 'Beast' feels like reading a fairytale-thriller book. The chemistry between the lead, the other cast, the shot, editing, the makeup & costume in every character. everything is good. but, the transition between first act to second act isn't so smooth and i feels like there's a blank space in there. one of my fav this year!

Hugo Bonjour

I found this to be odd and intriguing with beautiful cinematography, but the pace was a bit slow. Maybe if this was about 20 minutes shorter and if it relayed less on cinematic cliches and gimmicks I would have enjoyed this more.

†. Kennedy Pope

3.5 Was there really any denial from the viewing audience that Johnny Flynn did it? I really like Jessie Buckley's character development here. The story does such a great job at establishing her status as an outcast living within the parameters of proper society; and the whole conflict–choosing between her family and a little girl murderer–showcases her lingering fragility in such an entertaining way.

Aaron C Jones

Stylistically excellent, but felt super long and could have ended about 5 times. As a result, kind of a frustrating viewing experience but there's no denying the beautiful visuals and the acting was very good for the most part.