Beast

//Revelation Film Festival Review//

A psychological drama that steadily ratchets up tension, Beast is best entered into blind. For those who need a little more persuasion, the story follows a young woman, a mysterious man and a series of unexplained killings in a small seaside town. As both their past mistakes come back to haunt them, is all as it seems?

As Michael Pearce's debut feature, Beast is an assured first effort. Just when you think you know where it's heading it makes you question your assumptions and you'll be second guessing until the very end. A pleasant surprise that's definitely worth checking out.

I had wanted to see this for ages. I finally caught it on E4. The adverts sucked, but the film was even better than I anticipated. I knew it would be good, but figured I'd be let down. Not so. I'm looking forward to watching it again (without the ads).

'Beast (2018)' is about toxic relationships, in all their forms: with your lover, your mother, your father, your siblings, your ex, your town, your past, your nature, yourself. Moll, brilliantly and subtly portrayed by Buckley, is caught in a tangled web of manipulation, mistreated by pretty much everyone in her life. The film, essentially, chronicles her growth from timid and trampled-on to uncaged and triumphant (in a counter-intuitive sort of way). She's certainly put through the wringer, pushed to her very limits and then pushed passed even those. Someone almost unrecognisable emerges from the other side. Even though the contrast is stark, it's gradual enough that it makes perfect sense. Her transformation is incredibly satisfying, constantly moving forward and often taking unexpected turns. Of course, it's sparked by the arrival of Pascal, portrayed a little (though, somewhat appropriately) flatly by Flynn. He's an enigmatic entity that undergoes a number of shifts himself, which usually relate to how we perceive him. Since we're constantly in Moll's perspective, our opinion of the guy shifts whenever her's does but, even when she trusts him the most, you're not quite sure what to make of him. This keeps you on your toes and is helped immensely by the fact that the feature isn't predictable at all. The relatively unconventional narrative shifts around in unforeseen ways and makes a number of bold moves, especially towards its end. Its surprise third act is actually a delight, even if the end of the second act initially seems like it should be the plot's culmination. The movie often leans into its more horrific aspects by presenting itself as a horror, using music and atmosphere to create some really creepy sequences. It balances this well with its more conventionally romantic moments, which are actually just as creepy in retrospection, that do a good job of conveying the connection between its two focal characters. The whole thing is exceedingly thematically-rich and layered. Not only does it make you think, it actually gets under your skin. It gets in your head and stays there; it's a rewarding experience, for sure. It's a unique, mysterious piece that's engaging throughout. 8/10

Superb acting was necessary for this subtle, gripping and intriguing drama, and it was there. Two leads were superb and you really didn't know who was the murderer, but even more importantly, the way it delved into the psychology of those that have regrets for past bad actions and feelings of lack of support and confinement is excellent.

I don't believe what is being done here has ever been done in a film before, at least not as well, in empathising with characters and behaviours we don't really understand.

Don't worry, this is not a gruesome or horrific or jumpy film. It simply keeps you wondering about the main lead relationship, and especially the female's conflicted feelings between love and trusting whether her charismatic boyfriend is a killer or not; at the same time dealing with her own inner demons and trying to get a taste of freedom and excitement denied to her by her oppressive family.

Excellent writing, excellent story, some subtle but beautiful metaphor (plucking out the single ugly hair on her chin). Nice scenary of Jersey and though a form of 'murder mystery' the depth and character development/understanding gives a far far different feeling than Bergerac.

I recommend this film to adults (children won't understand depth of self questioning characters go through) and those that like an intriguing and realistic and slightly disturbing story. I hope it was a contender for film of the year.

As you may know, I often discover films when I dip into the filmography of an actor that is new to me. In this case, it is that of the talented Irish actor, Jessie Buckley (and I will definitely be following her career). The writing of this film is subtle although the topic is brutal. I was often surprised where the writers took us, which involved a few false trail and pseudo-endings before the credits rolled. The casting was superb as was their performance. The tone of abandonment was chilling. The pacing is deliberate and pensive. It is totally worth finding this film. I give it a 7 (very good) out of 10. {Thrilling Crime Mystery}