Beast (2022)
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A widowed father and his two daughters must fight to survive after being stalked by a ferocious rogue lion in a South African game reserve.
The story
Recently widowed Dr. Nate Samuels and his daughters, Meredith and Norah, arrive at the Mopani Reserve in South Africa for a vacation to reconnect with his daughters. Nate reunites with his old friend, Martin Battles, a biologist and Mopani manager. While touring the reserve's restricted areas, Martin discovers that a local Tsonga community has been decimated, suspecting a rogue lion is responsible. The situation turns dire when Martin is attacked by the rogue male lion, and it subsequently ambushes Nate. The family finds themselves stranded and hunted, forced to fight for their lives against the predator.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Dr. Nate Samuels takes his daughters, Meredith and Norah, to the Mopani Reserve in South Africa to reconnect with them following his wife's death. They are joined by Nate's old friend, Martin Battles, a biologist. During a tour of restricted areas, Martin discovers a rogue lion has been killing people in a nearby Tsonga community. The lion attacks Martin and then ambushes Nate, causing the family to become stranded after Meredith crashes the car. Martin warns Nate via walkie-talkie that the lion may be using him as bait. Nate attempts to subdue the lion with a tranquilizer rifle while the girls help rescue Martin. Later, poachers arrive, but the lion attacks and kills most of them. Martin sacrifices himself by setting off an explosion to burn the lion, allowing the sisters to escape with severe injuries. Nate eventually lures the lion toward a local pride. The rogue lion is mauls by the pride's males, Kuda and Kawe, who kill it. Nate is saved by a worker named Banji. After recovering in a hospital, Nate and his daughters return to the reserve to recreate a photo of his late wife.
- First release year
- 2022
- Runtime (minutes)
- 93
- Production countries
- Iceland; South Africa; United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Baltasar Kormákur
- Writers
- Ryan Engle · screenplay; Jaime Primak Sullivan · story
- Cast and characters
- Idris Elba · Dr. Nate Samuels; Iyana Halley · Meredith Samuels; Leah Sava Jeffries · Norah Samuels; Sharlto Copley · Martin Battles; Naledi Mogadime · Amahle; Tafara Nyatsansa · Banji; Martin Munro · Kees; Ronald McWanazi · Mutende
- Genres
- survival; action; horror
- Themes
- survival; father-daughter relationships; man vs. nature
- Tone and mood
- suspenseful; action-packed; tense
- Premise and plot tags
- survival; wildlife; action; horror
- Source material / true-story basis
- original idea
- Reception
- The film received generally positive reviews from critics, with a mixed or average score on Metacritic and a 'B' grade from CinemaScore. It was noted for its suspenseful chase and visual/sound effects.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 6/10 · scale: 10 · review count: 208; Metacritic · score: 54 · scale: 100 · review count: 46; CinemaScore · score: B · scale: A+ to F; PostTrak · score: 65%
- Awards and nominations
- Outstanding Animated Character in a Photoreal Feature · Visual Effects Society Awards · 21st · nominated; Outstanding Achievement in Effects in a Live Action Production · Annie Awards · 50th · nominated
- Production trivia
- The largest demographic was African-American at 34%.; Filming lasted for 10 weeks and took place in South Africa.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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