The Animal Kingdom

I didn't expect much - the story sounded intriguing but more than often the execution is lacking.

Boy, was I wrong. This one pulled me right in. It's a very well rounded film, impressive actors, great storytelling, amazing pictures / camera work and very catchy music. It really felt like I was part of the story.

Is this the best film I've ever seen? Probably not. But it is a great production and I had an exciting evening with a lot of emotions. We even talked about it for quite a while afterwards.

It's very nice to see european film productions on that level. I hope it'll hit the streaming services some day soon.

No pun intended - with all the cloning going on ... it might just be a matter of time, that some of what we see in this movie actually happens. Of course this is more than just our animalistic side - hidden inside us, now quite obvious (at least in the movie). It also shows how we discriminate - against anything we deem ... not "normal". Who decides what is normal you ask? Good question ... it changes and shifts a lot.

The acting is really good and the effects are great too. The movie works really good and the ideas are well done. Also it may have the best class room dynamic scene you have seen in a while ... realistic while being fantastic? Yes it is possible .. see this movie for more ...

At satire, a coming-of-age story, and ecological fable... The Animal Kingdom is all that at the same time. It is also a drama and a comedy, a love story, a father-son story... A hybrid film of crazy ambition, which unfolds gradually to end up as nothing less than a redefinition of our relationship to the world and to nature. Without grandiloquent speeches but with great intelligence in the distillation of its story elements and a great sense of imagery. Because above all else, The Animal Kingdom is a real, big fantasy film, which makes the most of its average French film budget to show creatures and shots never seen before, ones that we'll never forget. Without saying too much, the way in which one specific creature returns in the film and causes a shift in the perception of the characters and the audience simply by the way it is filmed demonstrates an acute science of cinematographic art. It might now work for some people, but I am convinced that for others this film can be a truly foundational experience. People will decide to make films after seeing this film, people will change their lives. I saw it 4 days ago and in moments of doubt or sadness, I think about it and it's like a balm. To be honest, I don't really know how to explain it. There is something magical about this film.

I was really looking forward to watch this movie since it had such a unique idea with some decent budget behind it. The movie looks beautiful and we are introduced to a fascinating world where some people start to mutate into wild animals or some would say beasts. It's an interesting coming of age story told in a unique fashion. However I think there are definitely some pacing issues and the final result is way too long. I enjoyed spending time in this world but after some while I repeatedly stared at the clock to see how long the movie still runs and that is never a good sign. Also I think the movie was pretty tame and could have delved deeper into its dark side. In the end it's certainly a unique movie but it also is not without its flaws. [5,8/10]

An unusual phenomenon is spreading in the world. Humans randomly start mutating into animals. The cause of this process is unknown, and the treatments do not give results. The film focuses on a high school student who lives with his father, while his mother is in the process of mutation in a specialized institution.

"The Animal Kingdom" is a coming-of-age drama with elements of fantasy and horror and some humor. It can be interpreted in various ways, literally and metaphorically, but I don't want to get into that multitude of interpretations, let everyone judge for themselves. I will present only my impressions, positive and negative.

The film is visually beautiful. Cinematography, make-up, and effects are superb, and for much less money than in Hollywood. The creatures, for lack of a better term, are striking and endearing. Romain Duris is good in the role of the father, and Paul Kircher in the role of the son gave an Oscar-worthy performance. I like the messages that the film sends, and the main asset is certainly the originality of the premise and the approach to it.

However, in my opinion, the script is too weak for such an original and interesting idea. The story is insufficiently developed, especially for a film of over two hours. You will not find out how and why these mutations occur and on what scale. If humans devolved into lower primates, the film would fall into the realm of sci-fi, but as they randomly mutate into literally anything and everything, not just mammals, but insects, reptiles, amphibians, and birds, I'd rather classify it as fairy tale fantasy, which conflicts with the very realistic tone of the film. I get the impression that "The Animal Kingdom" got dissolved in trying to cover too many themes and send too many messages across too many genres, and as a result, it felt sketchy and tepid. The authors bit off more than they could swallow and failed to fulfill the big potential of the project they embarked on.

Overall, a technically good but essentially disappointing film. Still, it's worth watching, if for no other reason than for the contrast to the garbage America is showering us with, the original ideas and performance of Paul Kircher.

7/10.