Review of the Science Fiction Film “The Animal Kingdom”: A Fantastic Beast
In a future where an unknown illness causes people to change into animals, The Animal Kingdom investigates this possibility.
Amidst themes of eco-consciousness and generational strife, the film focuses more on character development than worldbuilding.
The film suffers from pace and tonal problems, but its outstanding performances save it.
The 2023 Karlovy Vary International Film Festival provided the initial backdrop for this evaluation.
The relentless pursuit of human greed has set us on a course of global catastrophe, and now we wonder when and how Mother Nature will retaliate. Thomas Cailley (who also writes the screenplay with Pauline Munier) examines these fears in his upcoming film The Animal Kingdom (Le règne animal), which imagines a future where humans are gradually transforming into animals. Inspiring performances and impressive practical effects improve an already compelling subject.
Kingdom of the Animals Thriller Adventure
In the science fiction fantasy film The Animal Kingdom, humans begin to mutate into hybrid animals. The plot follows François and Émile, his son, as they try to make their way through a community that is having a hard time accepting these hybrids. While François struggles to aid his mutation-stricken wife, Émile confronts prejudice and peril as a result of his own metamorphosis.
Cast
Tom Mercier, Billie Blain, Adèle Exarchopoulos, Paul Kircher, Romain Duris
Battery Life: 128 Minutes
Adventure writers are the main genre.
Pauline Munier and Thomas Cailley
Production Companies: France 2, StudioCanal, Nord-Ouest Films French television networks France 2, StudioCanal, and Nord-Ouest Films A film.
‘The Animal Kingdom’: What Is It About?
The events of The Animal Kingdom unfold in a future where humans have undergone bizarre mutations due to an enigmatic disease. Infected humans suddenly begin to act more and more like wild animals, with no warning whatsoever. There is a generalised worry that your loved ones may transform into monsters because each person undergoes a different animal transformation and the origins of these mutations remain unknown. As a result of the epidemic’s meteoric rise in reported cases, the government is scrambling to find ways to treat the sick and stop the spread of the disease. The French, for example, built massive concrete enclosures to house the Creatures in captivity while researchers looked for a remedy.
The Animal Kingdom has a deep science fiction idea, but it makes the correct decision by prioritising characters over worldbuilding. This is why the film does not waste time establishing the principles of the mutations; instead, it thrusts us into a complex family drama that serves as the story’s foundation, despite the fact that it is a science fiction film. The Animal Kingdom features an amazing ensemble cast, but the story mostly follows François and Émile, a father and son duo forced from their home by the sickness, played by Roman Duris and Paul Kircher, respectively. Following François’ wife’s transfer to a complex in southern France, the family relocates in the hopes of being closer to her and eventually finding a cure for her transformation into a creature. A tragic accident has released scores of Creatures into the wild, including François’s wife, and their lives are about to become unbearably chaotic. Émile is already undergoing some changes, which he tries to keep hidden from others, adding further complexity to the situation.
The Pacing of “The Animal Kingdom” Is Off.
On display at The Animal Kingdom is a scaled face with two eyes peeping out. Magnolia Image Source
The Animal Kingdom allows Cailley to maintain high stakes throughout by focusing on individuals and their connections. This allows the film to delve into both science fiction concepts and more grounded themes, such as the friction between fathers and sons across generations. In addition to examining themes of bigotry and social panic, the illness that drives the plot of The Animal Kingdom also provides an opportunity to talk about environmentally friendly concepts like speciesism and global warming.
Movies that successfully provide thought-provoking concepts that hold viewers’ attention are always welcome. Nevertheless, the outstanding performances are the reason why The Animal Kingdom succeeds. Undoubtedly, Kircher is the king of the jungle. He brilliantly portrays the intricacies of adolescence, navigating the unexpected changes in one’s body while grappling with the urgent need to stand up in a violent environment that seems to value violence over cohabitation. The difficulties that Émile faces mirror those that the entire Animal Kingdom is experiencing right now, since humans are unable to deny the pervasive presence of Creatures. Émile is a young man attempting to find his place at a new school while simultaneously learning the hard lessons of love, making this journey much more personal for him. Even though the plot of The Animal Kingdom is in danger of collapsing due to pacing concerns, Kircher manages to pull it off like few performers have before.
Despite its compelling message of embracing and appreciating nature, The Animal Kingdom occasionally struggles to hold its own due to its ambitious scope, attempting to cover too much in its little running time. There is tonal discord in The Animal Kingdom because the filmmakers are trying to go in every way with the narrative. An example of this would be the story’s portrayal as an upbeat, magical experience suitable for the whole family, complete with cheerful music and an optimistic message towards the end. Still, there are a few horrifying sequences in The Animal Kingdom that attempt to capitalise on the physical horror that mutation brings, which are great on their own.
A Setback Occurring Near the End of “The Animal Kingdom”
The Animal Kingdom’s overly long screenplay also makes it difficult, if not impossible, to write a good conclusion. The final section of The Animal Kingdom can feel tedious due to the four consecutive endings, which is understandable. Everything in the film is telling us to get ready to say goodbye, yet the plot continues nonetheless.
Cailley and Munier’s script could have used a shorter running time and a more streamlined third act to make all the loose ends fit together more gracefully, even though the universe of The Animal Kingdom is interesting.
Because there are too many storylines going on at once in The Animal Kingdom, it’s clear to see where the mayhem is coming from. Having said that, a more polished ending would have given the film greater staying power. The Animal Kingdom has its flaws, but it makes up for them with an entertaining plot that may touch and thrill audiences.
