The Beast: A fun monster movie

The Best is one of those movies that doesn’t require much thinking. And it isn’t supposed to. Directed by Baltasar Kormákur (Everest), it’s a classic monster movie, like Jaws. Only set in a South African game park.

Starring Idris Alba and Sharlto Copley, it tells the ‘story’ of a family visiting South Africa who get in the way of a lion who has been done wrong. So, what’s the movie actually about?

Dr. Nate Samuels (Idris) and his teenage daughters, Meredith and Norah (Iyana Halley, Leah Sava Jeffries), head off to the Kruger Park for a vacation. It’s an opportunity for the family to bond after the death of Nate’s wife and the daughter’s mother. They meet up with long-time friend Martin, who is a game ranger. They head into a restricted area where they encounter a lion who has been done wrong.

Nick

And by done wrong I mean its pride/family has been wiped out by poachers. That’s all the motivation Arni needs in most of his movies, so that will be enough for the alpha lion! It’s a hella suspenseful movie that is beautifully shot. We can thank cinematographer Philippe Rousselot for the long shots and unusual points of view. By having very long takes, like, very long ‘one’ take shots, it builds suspense and a feeling that you are in the scene.

Some of these are so well done that you can barely notice the special effects that ‘glue’ the shots together. In particular, there is a scene in a church that was beautifully done Having the camera dip and raise into doorways and windows. It’s a stunning movie! As is the lion. It’s difficult to believe the thing is all cgi.

It’s a movie about a lion eating people

Now I have to admit, when I heard about The Best, it reminded me of the other lion movie The Ghost and the Darkness. I enjoyed that and hoped they would keep it simple, which they did. And that is the nice thing about The Beast, it’s a dumb thriller that does what the box says: it thrills.

I can’t imagine how people can walk into a cinema to watch a film about a lion terrorising people and think they’re going to get some deep look at life. You aren’t! It’s a movie about a fucking large lion eating people! Sorry, I had to get that out. I’ve seen some reviews from absolute imbeciles complaining that the movie was unrealistic. And of course there are unrealistic bits, and also some dumb characters.

I mention that because the older daughter grated me. Her conflict with her dad over the death of her mom irritated me, as did her stupid actions. She does some truly stupid stuff in the movie which will have you verbally berate her ‘why are you doing that!? Stop it, you idiot!’ But other than that I liked the characters. In particular, I liked seeing Copley again. I have no clue where that actor hides, but he’s a god damn national treasure. Foking prawn.

I give The Beast a roaring…

7/10