'Animals' Review: The Politician's Dilemma
- Ben Affleck directs and stars in 'Animals,' a political thriller critics are calling 'synthetic' and 'soulless.'
- The plot features a kidnapping, a failing mayoral campaign, and an affair, yet fails to generate genuine suspense.
- Despite a high-profile cast including Kerry Washington and Steven Yeun, the film is weighed down by clumsy writing and confusing character motivations.
- Affleck’s attempt to inject gravitas with Spanish-language speeches is dismissed as a 'pointless distraction.'
Brief Summary
Ben Affleck’s directorial effort 'Animals' aims for the high-stakes tension of a gritty political thriller but lands squarely in the realm of the forgettable. Starring Affleck as a mayoral candidate navigating a kidnapping plot, a crumbling marriage, and a staffer’s desperate need for cash, the film tries to weave a complex web of moral ambiguity. Instead, it delivers an overwrought, disjointed experience that relies on flashy cinematography to mask a hollow script.
Why This Matters
This film serves as a reminder that star power and a pedigree of past successes cannot save a production devoid of substance. For you, this means another high-budget streaming release that demands nearly two hours of your time for little narrative payoff. If you are looking for meaningful political commentary or a gripping thriller, you will likely find this movie to be nothing more than an expensive, frustrating waste of your evening.