← Back to results
Beast
2018 107 min United Kingdom R 18+
★7.1
Mystery, Crime, Drama
Director: Michael Pearce
Trailers
EN
EN
EN
EN
EN
EN
EN
EN
EN
EN
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.
US Gross:
$800,365
Starring
Jessie Buckley
Actor
Geraldine James
Actor
Oliver Maltman
Actor
Awards
BAFTA 2019
— Best Debut (Screenplay, Direction or Production)
BAFTA 2019
— Best British Film
Key opinion
Beast is a polarized directorial debut that functions more as an atmospheric psychological character study than a traditional thriller. While many critics laud Jessie Buckley’s intense lead performance, audiences and reviewers remain deeply divided over the film’s narrative cohesion, pacing, and the effectiveness of its conclusion.
| Acting | Jessie Buckley’s intense portrayal of internal turmoil and psychological repression anchors the film, earning nearly universal praise. | |
| Cinematography | The cinematography successfully utilizes the insular, beautiful landscapes of Jersey to enhance the film's suffocating and atmospheric tension. | |
| Screenplay | The screenplay is viewed as a double-edged sword; some appreciate the psychological depth and thematic focus on primal instincts, while others dismiss the plot as a collection of predictable clichés and underdeveloped character beats. | |
| Pacing | The pacing is a significant point of contention, with some viewers finding the shift from deliberate tension to accelerated resolution jarring, while others find the tempo fitting for a character-driven drama. | |
| Ending | The ending is highly divisive, with opinions splitting between those who find the resolution a logical, fitting conclusion to the character arc and those who feel it is unearned, predictable, or contrived. |