‘Beast’ overview: Idris Elba kicks lion butt in enjoyable survival thriller

Whether or not or not you will get pleasure from Beast relies on the way you reply the next query: Do you wish to see Idris Elba punch a lion? In case your reply is sure (and it needs to be, let’s be trustworthy), then Beast is 100% the film for you.

Beast does certainly characteristic Idris Elba punching a lion, however it’s additionally acquired a complete lot extra going for it. Within the temper for killer rigidity, immersive set items, and compelling household drama? Watch Beast. Trying to find the proper adrenaline rush blockbuster to wind down your summer season? Watch Beast. Do you simply actually wish to see Idris Elba punch a lion? (Okay, I’ll have already talked about that just a few occasions, however it bears repeating.) Anyway, watch Beast.

Beast provides us high-stakes man vs. lion motion

Beast stars Elba as Nate, a not too long ago widowed physician on a trip to South Africa together with his daughters Meredith (Iyana Halley) and Norah (Leah Jeffries). They’re staying at a nature reserve run by household good friend Martin (Sharlto Copley), who launched Nate to his late spouse. For Nate, this journey is a chance to reconnect with Meredith and Norah. They resent him for a way he dealt with the separation from their mom, and for a way he dealt with her later sickness.

What begins as a beautiful safari into the South African bush rapidly turns into a nightmare when Nate, Meredith, Norah, and Martin cross paths with a bloodthirsty lion. That is no peculiar lion: He is on a rampage towards people to get revenge on the poachers who murdered his delight. (Do not assume too onerous about this — what issues is that the lion is offended and that a complete bunch of badassery is about to go down.)

Director Baltasar Kormákur casts a suspenseful spell together with his use of lengthy monitoring photographs as we comply with our heroes by way of the bush. There is a fixed sense of motion and immersion all through the movie, whether or not we’re trailing Nate by way of an deserted village or trying to find the lion within the undergrowth. The reliance on monitoring photographs could make the transitions to static shot-reverse-shot conversations really feel jarring, however general they do their job and so they do it nicely.

After which there’s the lion, a stalking, snarling CGI beast that holds up visually all through the movie. It lurks out of body, or generally within the background, biding its time earlier than it may well come again and are available after Nate and his household once more. It in all probability helps the lion that his prey are nearly persistently making unwise choices — everybody cease leaving the automobile! — however the movie’s core forged sells each less-than-great alternative onerous. Certain, Beast has the occasional wrestle with clunky dialogue — a dialogue about “anti-poaching” is such apparent foreshadowing for a later second that lands with a clumsy thud — however you will nonetheless be cheering by the point Elba punches. That. Lion.

Idris Elba goes dad mode

Elba is absolutely in protecting father mode for this whole film. His evolution from “dad having hassle regarding his youngsters” to “badass motion hero who will face down a lion for his daughters” is a blast to look at. It is made all the higher by the movie’s earlier scenes, the place he mourns his spouse and tries to attach with Norah and Meredith.

Halley and Jeffries do nice work as Nate’s daughters. Halley nails the steadiness between Meredith’s concern and her makes an attempt to stay calm within the face of hazard. And Jeffries is a ray of sunshine as Norah, delivering a number of the movie’s funniest strains. Along with Elba, they create a portrait of a dysfunctional but loving household, and we will not assist however root for them to make it out of the bush alive.

With its core plot of “hunter vs. hunted,” Beast makes for an ideal double characteristic with this summer season’s sensible Prey. Each are character-driven adventures by way of the wilderness. Each discover themes of survival and familial bonds. And each characteristic nail-biting rigidity and well-executed suspense. Beast scratches the blockbuster itch in an analogous approach to Prey, and it is simply an all-around good time on the motion pictures. There is no higher approach to finish your summer season than that.

Beast is in theaters Aug. 19.