Beast (2022) | Film Review

It is never a smart move to savagely murder a pride of lions, especially when this group of illegal poachers blatantly missed the Jaws of the jungle lurking in the shadows. A lion that is no longer tolerating the tortures of man, exacting a bloody fury of revenge in the African landscape. A crusade that lands Idris Elba and his family front-and-center in the lion’s den. This is one terrifying Beast.

Idris Elba stars as Dr. Nate Samuels (we know he is a doctor, because he reminds everyone on multiple occasions, as most doctors do), and Nate is a widowed father simply trying to get over the death of his estranged wife and bond with his two daughters, the resentful Meredith and jovial Norah (Iyana Halley and Leah Jeffries). To try and reconnect, Nate elects to go back to his late wife’s roots and show his girls the beauty of Africa, their mother’s homeland.

Housing them on this journey is their Uncle Martin (Sharlto Copely), a local wildlife protector of sorts. Martin was a close friend of both Nate and his widow, and decides to take the family on a bit of a friendly safari. Shortly after their adventure begins, Nate and company stumble across a small village that has been decimated by a rogue lion. Destruction and carnage are in the air, and as Nate and family flees the scene, this monstrous lion begins his hunt for the Samuels family. One that will not stop until every single member is dead.

In terms of performances, Halley and Jeffries are given little to do other than showcase why teenagers should never be in charge (bad decisions aplenty, a complete inability to follow simple instructions), and screaming at loud decibels when it is obviously quiet time. Both actors are perfectly well-cast, this is more a shortcoming of Ryan Engle’s script than any performance issues.

Sharlto Copely is given the best opportunity he has had in some time to display why he deserves to be cast in so many more projects than he is, and that he can actually play a man that resides just south of normalcy. Known for outlandish character work, Copely relishes the opportunity to bring the antics down and focus on injecting a soft humanity into Martin, his respect and fondness for animals shining through in every scene. It is always a thrill to take a ride with Sharlto.

Of course, you can never go wrong with Idris Elba either. The guy just oozes “whatever Idris needs to do, we’re behind him”. Nate could have been the actual poacher and somehow we would still root for him. Instead, Elba elevates a thinly veiled character to a tortured widower stuck in a life-or-death struggle for the survival of what he holds most precious: his two girls. Nate is never in a place of lording over this lion destroying his holiday, he is the constant victim. He utilizes his quick wits and medical skills to keep hope alive as he brawls for everyone’s safety, and yet Elba still somehow comes across as the coolest cucumber in the jungle.

What carries us through most of Beast is Baltasar Kormákur’s (Everest) sharp and taut direction. Long takes that build the tension on top of itself, vicious and sadistic animal attacks, no holds barred carnage, captivating CGI, brisk pacing, plus cinematography that stunningly captures the African vista, all culminating in a thrilling rampage of blood. Those extended takes especially work a cinematic magic of sorts, as the audience earnestly begins searching for where exactly this bastard of a predator will be lurking next.

For all the goodwill Beast builds up for the first ¾ of its runtime, it is ridiculously shocking how rushed and contrived the final reel is. Every actor has sold us on this concept, the direction has been tight and riveting, a few “we’re in a horror movie” decisions are made here and there, and that is completely acceptable. Then Nate decides it’s time to punch a lion in the paw and all gritty logic goes flying out of the window for what ostensibly becomes a Hobbs and Shaw spinoff. Nate’s choices as we hit the home stretch make about as much sense as Chief Brody lathering up in chum and going for a dip in Amity Island on the Fourth of July. Insanity prevails as we sprint to the finish line.

Look, for all intents and purposes, Beast is an entertaining watch, and definitely worth a matinee at the theater. Sharply directed, finely acted, and a foe we can all easily be terrified of. If only the filmmakers had not decided to take the most predictable and ludicrous of shortcuts for the finale, Beast could have ended with more of a roar, instead of coughing up such a furball.