Entertainment | October 26th, 2022
Beast: Hit or Miss
By: Kya Cudjo
Idris Elba, one of Britain’s most in-demand actors, stars in a pulse-pounding new thriller that shows the consequences of poking around in an animal’s kingdom. This film tells the true story of many wild animals who are hunted daily, and some of the effects that may come with preying on them.
An emotional and dramatic journey of a father and his two teenage daughters who find themselves hunted by a massive rogue lion. Widowed Dr. Nate Daniels (Idris Elba) returns to South Africa, where he first met his wife, for an overdue vacation to reconnect with their daughters. The family resides at Mopani Reserve, which is managed by Martin Battles. Battles is an old family friend and wildlife biologist who initially introduced Dr. Daniels to his late wife.
Elba and the Beast
The heartwarming story takes a turn for the worst after an unexpected chain of events. The beast, a lion whose pack was hunted by blood-thirsty poachers, now sees all humans as the enemy.
Beast (2022) official film poster | Photo credit: IMDB
“Cats aren’t violent,” said Martin Battles, an anti-poacher, “they’re fighting back.” Meanwhile, Dr. Daniel’s family is in the wrong place, at the wrong time.
Movie Director Baltasar Kormakur managed to create a first-person perspective film while capturing this action-packed scenario. The visual representation of the film mimics a continuous shot feature or a one-shot cinema. This provides the illusion that the viewer is a part of the movie, leaving everyone watching on the edge of their seat. The editing and animation changed the entire tone of the film by selling a realistic lion. Although Dr. Daniel’s final fight scene seemed all too-videogame-like, the film was produced extremely well.
Behind The Action
According to LA Times, “Beast” has made over $21.8 million, including international showings. Although a brutally honest article from Forbes staff writer, Scott Mendelson, stated Universal’s Beast plunged 70% of its sales a week after its opening day.
“I’m sure the $37 million flick can make up some of that on PVOD (Premium Video on Demand), but it’s yet more evidence that, talent and charisma notwithstanding, Idris Elba is only a ‘star’ on the Internet,” stated Mendelson.
Many people question if the character writing could’ve been better or if they challenge the authenticity of Idris Elba’s role. Not to mention the social media attention and controversy behind casting his real-life 20-year-old daughter.
Idris Elba and daughter, Isan Elba | Photo credit: ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images
According to Insider writer, Palmer Haasch, rumors were raised after Elba revealed on a television appearance that his daughter auditioned to play the role of his character’s daughter for the new film “Beast”, but “their real-life chemistry didn’t match what was needed on-screen.” Haasch stated, “Elba said that his daughter Isan didn’t speak to him for ‘three weeks’ after failing to land a role in his upcoming film “Beast.”
One of Beast’s film producers Will Packer, who is a graduate of Florida A&M University and whose name is on the Performance Arts Amphitheater, said on “The Breakfast Club” that he was the one who eventually broke the news to Isan (Elba’s daughter) that she hadn’t gotten the part. Packer graduated from FAMU in 1996 with a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering. He has produced 28 features and has worked with Elba on numerous other films.
Aside from the background information behind the film, all the hair-raiser/nail-biter movie lovers will enjoy this adrenaline-fueled motion picture. The lion in Beast, who hunts humans without consuming them, is entirely fictional. However, Beast is based on a true storyline of man-eating lions who once roamed Earth. The Ghost and the Darkness is a film that actually summarizes the tragic story of the Tsavo Man-eaters. In 1898, a group of railway workers were laying track across the Tsavo River in Kenya, when they fell victim to a pair of lions. According to the Washington Post, over the course of nine months, beginning in March of that year, the two lions systematically hunted the workers taking dozens of victims due to lack of prey. Aside from the real tale of these vicious lions, one must now see the film Beast and witness this action-packed movie firsthand.
Beast premiered exclusively in theaters on Aug. 19, however since it is a Universal Pictures release, it is now streaming on Peacock as of Oct. 7, 2022. Peacock Premium is $4.99 a month with ads, or you can subscribe to the ad-free version Peacock Premium Plus for $9.99 a month
