I must admit, seeing the trailer with the shot of Idris Elba running away from the lion and closing the car door just as the lion jumps at him got me interested in seeing this movie. I got it from my public library, which means I didn't spend any money on it!
Let's face it, the whole raison d'etre of "Beast" is the climactic showdown at the end, Elba single-handedly takes on a big-ass (although apparently burnt and wounded) lion all by himself with nothing but a butcher knife. All the rest of the plot is just killing time for the end and the few other scenes where the lion is attacking Elba and his family.
I didn't expect much beyond a few thrilling scenes like that and that is what I got. I thought Elba was great in "The Wire" but I don't think he's gotten a movie role worthy of his talents and charisma yet (THIS sure isn't it).
Yes, plenty of stupid choices by the characters in this movie (had I watched it with other people in a theater I suspect we would all have been either laughing or hollering at the screen, as some of the choices of characters reminded me of some crappy "Halloween" or "Friday the 13th" ripoff).
Plus, the battle at the end did kinda remind me of the bear attack in "The Revenant," although it sure seemed as though this lion could have killed Elba in about two seconds (hello - one chomp on his neck woulda settled the issue).
Lower your expectations to a suitable level and this isn't the worst thing you could spend 90 minutes on!
Let's face it, the whole raison d'etre of "Beast" is the climactic showdown at the end, Elba single-handedly takes on a big-ass (although apparently burnt and wounded) lion all by himself with nothing but a butcher knife. All the rest of the plot is just killing time for the end and the few other scenes where the lion is attacking Elba and his family.
I didn't expect much beyond a few thrilling scenes like that and that is what I got. I thought Elba was great in "The Wire" but I don't think he's gotten a movie role worthy of his talents and charisma yet (THIS sure isn't it).
Yes, plenty of stupid choices by the characters in this movie (had I watched it with other people in a theater I suspect we would all have been either laughing or hollering at the screen, as some of the choices of characters reminded me of some crappy "Halloween" or "Friday the 13th" ripoff).
Plus, the battle at the end did kinda remind me of the bear attack in "The Revenant," although it sure seemed as though this lion could have killed Elba in about two seconds (hello - one chomp on his neck woulda settled the issue).
Lower your expectations to a suitable level and this isn't the worst thing you could spend 90 minutes on!