A Fera Interior

The Beast Within (2024) is a low budget British horror film from Alexander J. Farrell. It is being distributed by Well Go USA Entertainment. The film has a small, but solid cast, led by Game of Thrones' Kit Harrington. The movie is set in a remote place, and the year is unclear because of the pristine natural of the film, and how it was shot. All of those elements are good compliments to this homage to classic horror films, with a twist. The essence of the appeal of horror films is that that are allegories that are founded in real life fears and horrors. This movie does a good job of being engaging, and thought provoking. There is more here than a simple werewolf's tale, and that is a positive. The strength of the film is the perspective from which it is told; that of Harrington's Character's daughter. Caolinn Springall does a good job carrying this burden. She is the heart of the film, and elevates it. Worth the watch.

Ugh! Ok, I don't THINK this is a spoiler as I'm not revealing anything of the plot but if you don't want ANY information, then stop reading now. .........

Ok....... I love werewolf movies. I wait for good ones to be made. So what do we get here? A not very scary, not well hidden metaphor on domestic violence. First of all, a werewolf is ALREADY a metaphor for violence and the beast within man. Human losing control and doing violence as an animal to other humans. It doesn't need a more obvious metaphor trying loosely to masquerade as a werewolf movie!! We don't SEE the werewolf, not until the Very end and just barely. We don't get a good look at it. Secondly, from the perspective of your husband is known to be a werewolf.... Stop being sloppy. Stop cutting it close to the full moon. Stop putting your child in danger. Oh wait...this is a freaking metaphor.... Bugger off! I didn't want a metaphor, there's plenty of warnings out there, plenty of real violence against women and children, we didn't need a metaphor for that either.

I want a good look at a great, well done creature! I want a moody, gothic, creepy and well done horror flick. The metaphor is already included...geez!

The beast inside is a film a lot of people are certainly going to pass up and miss - I personally blame the marketing approach. This film, if going in with the correct mindset will genuinely, at the very least, give you something to think about. If you head into this film expecting a creature feature, or a straight up horror film, you may get disappointed. This is a somber, dark emotional subject matter tackled in a successful way. This film knew what message it wanted to convey and ran with it.

Although there's a good chunk of things that can be labeled as flaws, some pacing issues, some scenes dragging on too long, etc - this film wraps things up masterfully, especially the final stretch of the film. Some really good preformances and electrifying interactions as well - when you think about the nitpicks or issues with the film, it's shadowed by the real intentions of this beast.

This isn't a scary film, it's a film that's tackling metaphors, symbolism; this film gives a good addition to the werewolf subgenre by offering a little bit of a new twist with emotional intention. On a horror standpoint, if you're seeking blood, action, etc. Like that, however? You may be disappointed. Head into this with the right mindset, mentally prepare for a darker message than usual and you may just have a good time. Now awful, surely not the worst of the year.

I can't relate to nor root for idiots and their stupid decisions. I have no energy left. This movie is a frustrating watch. The characters' illogical choices make it impossible to sympathize with them, and the plot never fully delivers the tension it promises. What could have been a gripping thriller is undermined by poor pacing and weak storytelling as well as a poor premise. Any potential it had is squandered by its inability to engage or surprise, leaving me exhausted, annoyed and disappointed. It doesn't make any sense and I wonder why Kit Harington chose this. He played well, but couldn't save anything.

But ultimately, it just doesn't say anything new or do much of anything. Even as a metaphor for clearly the metaphor it is...for...,it's still just a big so what. It took an hour and a half to say that? The title and the epigram at the start of the movie were enough to deduce exactly what the "beastly" theme would be. Then it's 80 minutes of a child and/or piglet screeching, a sour-faced mother, a cliched grandfather and Jon Snow mugging about.

I am not even sure the Chekhovian apparatus was used effectively either. It was obvious from the beginning that girl child's affliction would come to play into the resolution but that could have blown up in their faces.

The movie made an attempt. But it is just slow, long and boring with little depth or bite.