Dog’s Movie House: “Beast” A Lean, Mean Well Made Thrill Machine!

“Beast” has a fairly silly premise if you are bent on adhering to the concept of real-life lion behavior, but as a monster movie “Beast” delivers in spades. Elba’s Nate, a doctor, manages to craft a fully formed character without sacrificing his considerable masculinity in the face of danger. Leah Jefferies and Iyana Halley are also terrific as Nate’s two grieving daughters. The dynamic between the three of them feels real and adds to the tension when the action ramps up. Copley is wonderful as Martin, combining a genuine affection for his dear friend with a serious hardass side when things go south. The action is thrilling and the CGI on the lion is extremely well done. (The attack on Nate under the jeep rivals the original T-Rex attack in “Jurassic Park.”). The only issues with the film lie in the fact that there are times Nate becomes damn near a super hero in the bush when he’s never been there before as well as the actions of the two daughters, which at times borders on the laughably stupid. But those moments are few and far between. At a lean ninety minutes, “Beast” is a wonderful thriller that deserves to be seen on the big screen. Congrats to the cast, director Baltasar Kormakur and writer Ryan Engle. 4 Out Of 5 On Kendog’s Barkometer! So Sayeth The Kendog!

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