Beast: Hey, If a Shark Can Take Things Personally, Why Not A Lion?

By John Kirk

Rating: B+

Africa’s a dangerous place. When my wife and I trekked overland from Kenya to South Africa, our guides frequently reminded us of the rules we had to follow to keep safe.

They were simple and easy to remember. And if you didn’t? Well, bad things could happen. Sounds pretty simple, right?

That was on my mind when I watched Beast.

Beast is the story of Dr. Nate Samuels (Idris Elba) and his two daughters Mer and Nora (Iyana Halley and Leah Jeffries) who, after their mother’s death, travel to South Africa to visit their Game Warden Uncle, Martin (Sharlto Copley). While on safari, the family is hunted by a rogue lion seeking revenge after its pride is killed. And a time of family reconnection suddenly turns into a battle for survival, with Nate protecting the family he has drifted from.

It's a simple premise, much like the rules we followed. The characters are straightforward, the story is easy to follow, and the audience knows it’s in for a series of well-timed jump-scares. We all know the characters aren’t going to follow the rules, after all. In fact, the most abused line in the film is: “Stay here!” which nobody does.

But the scares are there in abundance. It may seem like a difficult scripting feat to see how long Nate and his family can avoid being mauled by this gargantuan rogue lion while at the same time caring for injured Uncle Martin and avoiding being shot by poachers in the wild. But if there’s one thing that Beast does well, it keeps its audience on the edge of their seats.

Other than the exceptionally cultivated frequency of fright-laden moments, the plot is predictable. In moments of survival though, there’s a degree of forgiveness that partners well with the willing suspension of disbelief.

Yes, it’s a convenient contrivance that this particular giant of a lion has the emotional capacity to launch a revenge-kill spree against all humans. But if the great white shark in Jaws can be clever, cunning and single-minded, why not a lion?

Of course, all this is put to the side as Nate struggles to keep his daughters safe and, as the film’s poster art suggests, even if that means facing it down with his bare hands. However, if there was ever a leading man in Hollywood today we would want to see tackle a lion, it would be Idris Elba.

It’s also the draw of the characters’ shared, simple purpose to survive and help each other to survive that makes this film an enjoyable watch. The audience can immediately relate to these characters and despite the moments of predictability, are intensely curious about how they will survive their next plight. The audience not only cares about these characters, but are willing to forgive their episodes of poor judgement.

Idris Elba always manages to shine. And in this case, he successfully endears himself to the audience as a struggling father who tries to make amends with the children he has distanced himself in his grief from after his wife’s death. Prepared to do anything to protect them, he’s a believable father/protector.

In the same way, Sharlto Copley – one of my favourites – also acquits himself well portraying the loyal friend and uncle to Nate’s children. It’s a straightforward character and well within the realm of his talents.

To be frank, both of these characters are uncomplicated in scope and not much of a challenge for Elba and Copley. But with that level of ease, they are expectedly well-performed and even manage a couple of surprises for the audience. Sharlto shows an unexpected moment of nobility and Nate, with his medical skills, shows a degree of resolve that the audience demands to see a father and doctor demonstrate.

Films set in Africa also have the advantage of the most amazing settings. The audience is treated to natural geography, wildlife shots and nature at its most primal and beautiful. The audience can’t help but be mesmerized when watching this film, but at the same time, it reinforces the simple danger the characters are in and the nature of this thriller.

Beast is an easy story to follow and an easy film to enjoy. Just follow these simple rules: don’t expect complicated characters, enjoy the jump-scares and be entertained by the performances of some exceptional talent in uncomplicated roles.

Beast . Directed by Baltasar Kormákur. Starring: Idris Elba, Sharlto Copley, Iyana Halley, Leah Jeffries. Opens in theatres Friday, August 19.