Beast – A Lesson in Regret

No words can prepare you for the extremely intense experience you are going to have with this one.

Synopsis: Moll is 27 and still living at home, stifled by the small island community around her and too beholden to her family to break away. When she meets Pascal, a free-spirited stranger, a whole new world opens up to her and she begins to feel alive for the first time, falling madly in love. Finally breaking free from her family, Moll moves in with Pascal to start a new life. But when he is arrested as the key suspect in a series of brutal murders, she is left isolated and afraid. Choosing to stand with him against the suspicions of the community, Moll finds herself forced to make choices that will impact her life forever. (eOne Films)

Starring: Johnny Flynn, Jessie Buckley, and Geraldine James

Writer: Michael Pearce

Director: Michael Pearce

Rating: 14A (Canada)/R (United States)

Running Time: 107mins

Trailer: 

No danger can ever match the danger of poor decisions. No matter how much regret you have, you can never change the past. We can change as people, but our most harmful actions will never be forgotten. The only way you can fix a bad decision is by not making it in the first place. This film will ultimately be best going into blind so you can be even more surprised with what might already be the most shockingly fantastic films of the year.

Beast is a damn revelation. Director Michael Pearce has crafted a story here that is an absolute masterclass in tension and suspense, keeping you on the edge of your seat throughout its entire 107 minute running time. The most impressive thing about what he does here is how he fits all the pieces in so perfectly, like a jigsaw puzzle. Whereas other films may have missing pieces in their puzzle, every piece is here, and merges together in a way that will remain memorable long after walking out.

This also happens to be one of the most atmospheric films in recent memory. If you are a fan of films that use their technical aspects to elevate the tension, such as The Revenant and It Comes at Night, you’ll definitely love this one too. The way it’s shot, the music, the sound mixing, the lighting, the color pallet…. simply, everything is done right here in terms of the technicalities.

The acting should not be dismissed either. Michael Pearce, as mentioned, has a voice that we should be seeing much more of soon, but the acting might be just as good, or even a bigger highlight. Leads Johnny Flynn and Jessie Buckley as Pascal and Moll respectively are both absolutely mesmerizing here, and their incredible portrayals of their dark, mysterious characters even further elevate the already-present, near unbearable tension.

This is an extremely dark and somewhat violent film that may not be for everyone, but if you are a fan of the psychological suspense thriller, this is one of the most no-brainer recommendations. Michael Pearce has proven to be an auteur with only his feature debut. He has created one of the most intense films in recent memory, matched up with a great atmosphere and acting so good that it will leave you in disbelief. This extremely powerful and unforgettable film will definitely have a lasting impact, and there is absolutely no way to prepare for how life changing this is. Please don’t dismiss this one.

Score: 9.5/10

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