The Beast
I'll do my best to refrain from spoiling anything, but if you want to remain completely blind to all plot details, just know that this is a difficult review to write because I have truly never seen anything like this before. The Beast is a very challenging, strange, and ambitious film by Bertrand Bonello. It covers many genres - sci-fi, romance, thriller/horror, period piece, drama, mystery, even a sprinkle of comedy and takes you through every emotion. Some people will definitely see it, call it pretentious and move on. I fully understand that, but just after my first viewing this is easily one of the most engaging and unique film watching experiences I have ever had.
The Beast abandons all formerly established narrative conventions and takes a serious risk by telling three similar stories during three overlapping time periods: 1910, 2014, and 2044. Across each of these periods we follow Léa Seydoux and George MacKay who both give very different but equally captivating performances.
Seydoux is an actress that has never disappointed me. She's severely underappreciated and is typically one of the better aspects of the films she's in. Many people have describe her performance in Beast as bland and emotionless. Lack of emotion is part of this films plot for one, but she proves in this film how dynamic and adaptable she is. This is easily her best performance in my mind and Bonello's given her an opportunity to shine. Also, no one should be allowed to be that attractive.
MacKay I've only seen in 1917 (the 2003 Peter Pan doesn't really count). Initially I thought he was an odd choice because he looks (and is) much younger than Léa Seydoux, but that feeling didn't last long. He was given the most difficult task in this film by playing three very different roles. I think he nails each one and definitely makes each of them stand out. One of his roles, a reference to a real mass murderer, starts out hilarious but quickly becomes horrifying.
This is a very confusing film on surface level even though it's themes are pretty simple. The story is told in glitchy, dreamlike sequences that feel straight out of Lynch's Lost Highway or Mulholland Drive. There are many references to events, people, videos, and novels that I was unfamiliar with, but I was able to put the pieces together afterwards. The themes of necessary loneliness, longing for love, fear of the inevitable are presented in bizarre and at times unsettling ways. Their exaggerated portrayals might come off as art house junk to some, but these feelings have been felt by every human on the planet and they will remain forever.
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