BEAST will be in theaters on August 19th.
Idris Elba stars in a pulse-pounding new thriller, BEAST. Elba plays a father with two teenage daughters who a massive rogue lion hunts. Baltasar Kormákur directs the film. He was the director behind Everest, 2 Guns, and Contraband. The last time we saw Idris Elba was in The Suicide Squad as Bloodsport and in Netflix’s The Harder They Fall. Elba also recently lent his voice to Knuckles in Sonic The Hedgehog 2. BEAST also stars Sharlto Copley from the Russian Doll series and Maleficent.
Synopsis
Dr. Nate Daniels, a recently widowed husband, returns to South Africa, where he first met his wife. He is on a long-planned trip with their daughters to a game reserve managed by an old family friend and wildlife biologist. But what begins as a journey of healing jolts into a fearsome fight for survival when a lion, a survivor of blood-thirsty poachers who now sees all humans as the enemy, begins stalking them
Idris Elba can only do so much to carry a film. Unfortunately, all BEAST delivers is 1 hour and 30-minute lesson on what not to do if you find yourself in the crosshairs of a lion. The film offers too many unplausible situations even though it is simply a film to entertain. BEAST leans into the typical horror genre cliche of poor decision-making when your life is in danger. Despite a bland plot with attempts at jump scares, the film does offer savagery and graphic scenes if that is your cup of tea. The Lion, aka BEAST, is a combination of Scar and Michael Meyers, who will stop at nothing until everyone is dead. To my surprise, the CGI one was not as bad as expected, and the exotic location all felt real. Ultimately, it is a film about what a father would do for his children.
Verdict
I give BEAST 2.5 out of 5 stars. If you are looking for an over-the-top film and big fan of Idris Elba like most people, then this film is for you.
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Sean Tajipour
Sean Tajipour is the Founder and Editor of Nerdtropolis and the host of the Moviegoers Society Podcast. He is also a member of the Critics Choice Association. You can follow on Twitter and Instagram @Seantaj.