Beast (2022) Movie Review

Idris Elba has asserted himself as one of Hollywood’s biggest assets. The actor is able to play a variety of different roles, from a villain in ‘Hobbs & Shaw’ to an anti-hero in ‘The Suicide Squad’, to a grizzled and morally ambiguous detective in ‘Luther’ to now a doctor on Safari in 2022’s ‘Beast’, not to mention his vocal talents that can be heard on his collaborative effort with Australian Indie-rock duo Lime Cordiale. The man can seemingly do it all and with great success. The actor has two new releases hitting physical media this November, the first being the previously mentioned ‘Beast’, which sees Elba play Dr Nate Samuels, as he takes his kids to his mother’s village after her tragic passing. While on Safari, Dr Nate and his two daughters become targets for a rogue lion, who has lost his pride. Will Dr Nate get out alive? You’ll have to watch and find out. But in all seriousness, this was a film on my radar due to Elba’s involvement but also because director Baltasar Kormakur was at the helm. Kormakur previously helmed ‘Contraband’, ‘2 Guns’, ‘Everest’ and 2018s ‘Adrift’, 4 films that I am quite fond of, so my interest was piqued, and I am also a sucker for a creature feature. So, with all of that said, is ‘Beast’ worth your time?

I’m happy to say ‘Beast’ is a solid thriller and a damn fine action flick. The film's simple premise works in its favour, as it allows director Baltasar Kormakur to really have fun with his craft and create adventurous and entertaining action set-pieces. The film is never dull, and because of its limited setting, that is really saying something. Idris Elba shines in the lead role. He doesn’t have a great deal of dialogue, but through his actions and chemistry with the two actresses (Leah Jeffries & Lyana Halley) playing his on-screen daughters, he’s able to make us sympathise with his situation and really understand the un-resolved conflict with his deceased ex-wife.

As mentioned, the action set-pieces are gripping, taking place in claustrophobic locations that will definitely get the heart pumping. Sometimes, when a film does take place in a single location, the setting and scenery can become mundane and repetitive, making the runtime feel as though it drags. director Baltasar Kormakur manages this perfectly, ensuring that the character drama remains poignant and intriguing, that the single locations don’t feel too isolating. The action sequences are also nail-biting and well-executed, never feeling dull. It’s an absolute blast!

‘Beast’ is one of the best creature features in recent years. With a great lead turn from the great Idris Elba and a unique setting which the film utilises well, ‘Beast’ was an absolute blast to watch. ‘Beast’ is now out on DVD and Blu-Ray, head on over to your local Sanity or online to pick-up your copy today, you won’t want to miss it. You can also pair it with a new release, in Sanity’s amazing 2 for $50 deal. This would also be a great Christmas stocking stuffer for any movie fan!

Buy The Beast Movie on DVD here

Christopher Pattison wrote this blog post for Sanity. See more from Chris here