Animals

Animals: The Moviewrld Review (Read This Before You Watch) Storyline Mark Kimball (Ben Affleck) is running for mayor of Los Angeles as an independent. His campaign is already buried in debt when his son gets kidnapped just days before the election. You'd expect a simple "save the kid" story, but it turns into something much darker. It's more about right and wrong, a marriage falling apart, and what a person will do to hold onto power. The tension is high and the pace is quick. Some characters make choices that will make you want to yell at your screen. By the end, you may feel a little cynical about people. Cinematography The film looks gritty and real, just like the LA politics it's about. The camera shows two worlds side by side: the shiny, polished life of a mayoral candidate, and the dark, shady world he has to enter to get his son back. There are no flashy tricks. Instead, tight, cramped shots make you feel the pressure he's under. Cast Affleck both directs and stars, and he pulls it off. You can feel the desperation of a man who's out of options and ready to protect himself at any cost. Kerry Washington is great as his wife, Abigail. She brings real feeling and a quiet strength to a marriage that's being pushed to its limit. Gillian Anderson steals several scenes as Dayle, a scary "fixer," and she adds a real sense of danger to every scene she's in. The Verdict It's a gripping thriller with a few flaws. The twists will keep you hooked, even though the characters' bad choices sometimes stop it from being great. Moviewrld Rating: 6.5/10

— Official Editorial