My Animal

My Animal is a movie about a subject matter I already like. Yet I was completely uninterested and bored immediately and throughout. I even stuck it out to the end in hopes of at least one cool scene or even a moment. But nope, it's just nothing, through and through.

There is barely enough substance for a short story, let alone a feature length film. Character motivations and decisions seem random and unearned. And the messaging is heavy-handed and obvious.

The only positive I can think of is the general tone, driven by the music and some cool trippy visuals. But that isn't nearly enough to warrant the time it takes to watch this movie. (1 viewing, 12/13/2023)

A sad excuse of a movie with everything wasted, besides the two leads who enjoyed very much their time in the movie and the supporting cast having fun in the snow and indoor.

The movie would have benefited from a tight editing bringing the runtime down to 45-50 minutes, to add some transformations, some thrills and some ghastly discoveries from both sides. To have this one categorized as horror and romance is only in Jacqueline Castel's head.

• Screenplay/storyline/plots: 4
• Development: 5
• Realism: 5.5
• Entertainment: 6
• Acting: 5.5
• Filming/photography/cinematography: 6
• VFX: 5
• Music/score/sound: 4.5
• Depth: 3
• Logic: 2
• Flow: 4.5
• Horror/romance: 3
• Ending: 0.5.

Right, well I was under the impression that I would be in for a werewolf movie of sorts, as I sat down to watch the 2023 movie "My Animal" from writer Jae Matthews and director Jacqueline Castel. However, I have to admit that I hadn't even heard about the movie prior to sitting down and watching it, so I didn't exactly know what I was getting into here.

This movie failed to capture my interest, especially since the movie's narrative was slow paced, the visuals were sort of surreal, and it wasn't exactly the type of werewolf movie that I had hoped for. And I have to admit that the way that writer Jae Matthews concocted the script and storyline just didn't appeal much to my liking.

The only familiar face on the cast list for me was Stephen McHattie. The acting performances in "My Animal" were actually fair enough, despite the fact that the movie's plot and script utterly failed to entertain me.

Visually, then director Jacqueline Castel didn't deliver a movie that tickled me in the right places.

My rating of "My Animal" lands on a two out of ten stars. And this is definitely not a movie that I will pick up a second time.

This film was only an hour and forty-three minutes but it felt like three hours. As someone who has been a youth in rural Canada I deeply resonated with the depiction of the bleakness and dullness of life in small northern town. It was hopeless and boring as a youth, and it didn't make for a very entertaining film.

The acting was great, but too many long drawn out fantasy sequences that didn't really add to the film. It looked good. I liked the lighting and the setting, but...nothing happens. It needed more story and fewer music videos.

It was tagged as horror and romance, but it did not have enough of either. It had barely any of either really.

Finally, why is Canada only allowed to make werewolf movies now?

Worth watching. Very 80s vibes. Incredible visuals and camera shots. Indie arthouse themes drive this horror story. Some light x-rated scenes. Actors did a great job. Story is decent. You will be transported back to 1988. I loved most of it.

The action or werewolf sequences are not special effect heavy. Nor need be. The emphasis here is on the characters. Each figuring themselves out in a cold cold world. Cold weather and cold people. Cold family members and cold friends. Many relatable moments. Especially looking back in time from our current acceptances in societies. The suspense builds slowly with each passing full moon.

Only suggestion would be to cut it a bit shorter. I am glad I watched it and really enjoyed it. Very impressed.