21.10.23
Brooding and unpredictable, The Beasts is an impressive psychological thriller that generates palpable tension and unease. Director Rodrigo Sorogoyen throws us headfirst into rural Spain, where the unchecked nature of human violence and hostility towards outsiders takes charge.
Simmering beneath the surface tension lies thoughtful explorations of nationalism, xenophobia, and class divides. For lifelong Galician farmers Xan and Lorenzo, the financially rewarding proposal of wind turbines offers an escape from lifelong hardship and misery. But for the wealthy French expats Antoine and Olga, who have merely been “playing at farming” these past two years, the untouched farmland holds value beyond money. The Beasts exposes the primal territorial nature of man when threatened by foreign encroachment and changing times.
Much of the film’s success revolves around building mundane situations into crescendos of tension. The tempo of each scene, many being extended shots with lengthy dialogue, is expertly managed to keep viewers on the edge of their seats. Mirroring sequence shots of the main characters showcase complexities between the key characters, which elevates the story above most thrillers I’ve seen this year. At the heart of the film lies the imposing physicality and remarkable performances of its stars. Denis Ménochet (the French father from the opening scene of Inglorious Basterds) and Luis Zahera (an actor who I’d never seen before, but who excels here as the rage-inducing villain) play nemeses stuck in a primal standoff, with their acting muscular and intense.
While The Beasts features some grotesque caricatures of the rural Spanish, it ultimately succeeds; the first hour in particular oozes with almost unbearable suspense. Viewers seeking a combination of thrills, nuanced characters, and cinematic craft will find much to appreciate here. With powerful performances, taut dialogue, and a surprising narrative shift in the third act, The Beasts is a memorable thriller with striking imagery and political substance which is worthy of much discussion.