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| Images Courtesy of Magnolia Pictures |
Thomas
Cailley's dystopian mutant epic, The Animal Kingdom is a cinematic
cornucopia of ideas, concepts, and genres. While the value of the
parts ultimately is more valuable than the final product, this is a cinematic
hail Mary that reaches for the stars. Elements of body horror fuse with a
coming-of-age tale in the middle of a transformative apocalypse, delivering a story
that has been told dozens of times in a rather unique manner.
Awe-inducing visuals, solid performances, and a refreshing approach to
tolerance for outsiders blend together to deliver one of the most artful
films of the year thus far.
A strange pandemic is sweeping through France, slowly mutating the afflicted
into various animals. Caught in the middle of a world becoming undone, a
father and son set out on a quest for safety and peace. Cailley
wrote the script with Pauline Munier. One of the things that immediately
jumps out is the dialogue between Francois and his son Emile. Running the
gambit of emotions from comedic to terrified, the two principles
organically blend as family, even as the unthinkable is unfolding around them,
creating a foundation of humanity in a world that is quickly turning into
anything but. As they desperate traverse a world with ever changing rules,
they are brought together by moments of simple kindness, laughter, and love.
David Cailley's brilliant, award winning cinematography is vibrant, full of colors and life in virtually every shot, only juxtaposed by the placid constructs of the city, before giving way to the lush and mysterious forest where the changed and changing now rule. The special effects, both of a mix of shockingly good CGI and gritty practical effects, drive home the body horror underpinnings with blood, nails, and other unspeakable things as characters try to resist and conceal their "infection", giving the entire story a feeling of visceral reality. This is the magic of The Animal Kingdom. It walks the divide of implied gore, teenage angst and desire, and familial bonding so well, everything seems almost natural, despite the heavy themes at play.
Now in theaters, and
available for digital rental, The Animal Kingdom is massive film about the
small concepts that unite us as a species. While it might not entirely
work, and many of these themes have been explored ad nauseum, the manner in
which Cailley and his crew handle the material is fascinating. If you are
looking for a heartfelt, jarring foray in a world with a post-Covid lens, this
will not disappoint.
--Kyle Jonathan