Movie Review: Beast – Full of suspense from start to finish

I’m getting back to my reviews, after a short hiatus, so I’m pleased to bring you my thoughts on Beast which I had the chance of seeing during one of Cineworld’s Secret Unlimited Screenings back April, yes I know I am far behind on my reviews, anyway enough chat, let’s get on with this.

So back in April, it was another Secret Screening and after the lovely surprise of the brilliant, Love Simon, I was intrigued to find out what movie would be screening and with many of the screening’s they aren’t what you expect them to be. I had heard people talking about Beast but I really wasn’t sure what to expect from the movie and did I get a pleasant surprise from the screening.

Beast is the story of a troubled woman (played by Jessie Buckley) living in an isolated community who finds herself pulled between the control of her oppressive family and the allure of a secretive outsider (played by Johnny Flynn) who is suspected of a series of brutal murders. As the relationship grows between them, the movie takes us on an uneasy journey as she breaks away from her family and movies in with Pascal, after he is suspected of the murders, Moll stands by him against her families wishes and the suspicions of the town-folk where she lives.

Directed and written by Michael PearceBeast, which is his first full-length feature is a stunning movie, he takes his time to build up the points in the film that have your jaw dropping and treats the production as something that you don’t just watch, you get sucked into and feel as if you have become part of the community watching from afar an still being shocked by the outcomes.

The production values of the movie feel very homegrown, but don’t think that is a bad point, because it isn’t, the lighting, camera work and production of the sets are all nicely done and give Beast a feeling all of its own.

Jessie Buckley, who plays Moll, is brilliant. As the film progresses you see the changes to her character from the moment we meet her to the drastic and terrifying Moll that she becomes later on in the movie, the character is nicely written and brilliantly played by Jessie.

Johnny Flynn, who plays Pascal, is equally brilliant in his role, there were many occasions where I was thinking, “is it him? maybe, but then again maybe not”, the creepiness and delightfulness that he portrays for his character were certainly a strange joy to watch on the screen, but well performed.

Johnny Flynn in Beast (2017)

I can’t finish this post without mentioning the superb Geraldine James (Sherlock Holmes, Calendar Girls), for her portrayal of Hilary Huntington, Moll’s mother, she certainly brought the character to life and you could understand Moll’s feelings for her family the way she was treated byt her mother.

This certainly a movie that has to watched closely and concentrated on, but it’s worth it in the end with the rather climatic ending that not only pulls the film into place but also leaves you with an uncontrollable jaw-dropping moment that you may have expected, but not as brutally as portrayed on the screen.

Beast Official Trailer

If you get the chance to check out Beast then give it a viewing, it may be slow to start, but once it starts to boil you are taking on one heck of a journey.

Full of suspense from start to finish
Beast Poster - Blazing Minds Review

Movie title: Beast

Movie description: A troubled woman living in an isolated community finds herself pulled between the control of her oppressive family and the allure of a secretive outsider suspected of a series of brutal murders.

Date published: May 12, 2018

Country: UK

Duration: 1h 47m

Director(s): Michael Pearce

Actor(s): Jessie Buckley, Johnny Flynn, Geraldine James

Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery

4

Summary

Directed and written by Michael Pearce, Beast, which is his first full-length feature is a stunning movie, check out our full review