Beast – A *Classic* Late August B-Movie

Upon seeing the first trailer for Beast in theatres a few months ago, this reviewer was immediately sold. The movie monster subgenre which thwarts our helpless humans into peril with some ridiculously overpowered animal or creature may be a personal favorite out of the many different subgenres out there. Throw a movie monster on the screen and it’s an easy sell. With the promise of a killer lion and Idris Elba and co. out in the wilderness in Africa, one can’t help but hope for some pretty entertaining carnage.

Beast offers a relatively simple take on the humans in peril predicament where Elba stars as Dr. Nate Samuels, a man whose relationship with his kids has been strained following the death of his wife. Their journey to Africa is important in his reconciliation with his past, a past which he and his wife shared in the continent. Over the course of film, the challenges were not only the family’s challenges with the ravenous lion but also Samuels’ own inner challenges with the death of his wife. All of this sets the stage for a late august 90-minute B-movie thriller!

One of the most disappointing elements of Beast is the carnage, or lack thereof. It doesn’t take too long for Elba and co. to get stuck in the middle of the mess. The ravenous lion is framed as a unique crusader whose level of violence is a result of the environment he is forced to live within. This environment being one that is filled with poachers, who have turned to targeting lions. That being said, why do audience flock to films such as this one? It’s not usually for the star in front of the camera, nor for the director behind it, but it’s rather for the monster, the carnage, and the thrill of seeing its human characters be vulnerable to the point of uselessness. Beast unfortunately lacks the kills, carnage, and absolutely terror against man that makes these kinds of films worthwhile. With most of the kills happening offscreen, the film does not meet its full potential as a monster movie, and rather leans into the horror and thrills that seek to keep its viewers on the edge of their seat. 

Beast is ultimately at its best when it utilizes unique steadicam and long take tracking shots that seek to keep audiences within the action for as long as possible. It follows the action, weaving through the obstacles and terrain that our characters are maneuvering through. It’s fun, it’s gripping, and it’s something that is unique to this type of film. Where many would usually see quick cutting action, with a nauseating number of cuts, this is where Beast reaches a high point. In spite of that, what audiences actually see on screen is oftentimes underwhelming. 

Elba is always reliable as the film undoubtedly serves as a decent vehicle for him to show off his movie star charisma in a new way. The film is also one that will play better with an audience who will undoubtedly find themselves hooting, hollering, and audibly jumping in fear throughout. Much of the chatter will likely come as a result of the silly and often idiotic decisions made by the characters. Now it can’t be a late august B-movie in this subgenre without some silly character choices though, so it should at least be commended for sticking to the blueprint in that respect. 

At the end of the day, Beast is not a bad movie by any stretch of the imagination. It serves in its promise to thrill audiences with its deadly lion and the charisma of Idris Elba, but it falls short in being anything but a generally forgettable, run-of-the-mill thriller.

*still courtesy of Universal Pictures*

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Brennan Dubé

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