Animals, directed by Ben Affleck, who also stars in the movie, was released Oct. 9 on Netflix and in select theaters. It is a crime thriller with a kidnapping plot twist. Expectations for the film were high because of its cast and Affleck’s previous success as a filmmaker. However, it ended up receiving mostly negative reviews, with a 31% Rotten Tomatoes rating and a 5.7 out of 10 IMDb rating.
The cast includes actors such as Ben Affleck, Kerry Washington and Gillian Anderson, alongside Steven Yeun and Ray Fisher. Affleck plays Mark Kimball, a candidate for mayor of Los Angeles. His wife, Abigail, played by Washington, is a busy therapist trying to be a good mom. They have a son named Denny, played by Christopher Woodley, who is believed to have been kidnapped on Halloween. The Kimballs have a housekeeper named Cecilia, played by Adriana Paz. Cecilia has a boyfriend named Ramon, who has a son named Hector.
Cecilia takes Denny and Hector trick-or-treating because Mark is too distracted by the mayoral race and Abigail is having an affair. While the children are trick-or-treating, someone plans to kidnap Denny, but the kidnapper accidentally takes Hector instead. The Kimballs receive a mysterious call saying their child is being held for ransom. They are unsure whether they will be able to pay. This is where the secrets in the Kimballs’ marriage start to unfold. The plot thickens as more and more secrets are revealed.
Animals offers a thrilling movie experience with unexpected twists that keep viewers on the edge of their seats. Just when the audience thinks they know what will happen next, the story takes an unexpected turn, leaving viewers guessing who will be kidnapped and who will be the kidnapper. Sophomore Owen Gibson said, “Animals is a good film and I loved Ben Affleck.” However, many negative reviews cited a lack of tension, unconvincing characters and the use of AI in postproduction.
Overall, Animals is a good movie for teens and adults. Although critics gave it negative reviews, the film is a solid option for a movie night, especially for viewers looking for a somewhat scary movie to watch around Halloween. Animals is worth watching for those who enjoy suspense and unexpected twists.
