Beast

Screening on 14/09/18

UK 2017
Dir: Michael Pearce
Starring: Jessie Buckley, Johnny Flynn, Geraldine James
Cert 15
106 mins

Although “Beast”, a thrilling first feature by director Michael Pearce, is set on the island of Jersey, do not expect a sunny picture-postcard of a film! Instead we have a dark and menacing tale of oppression, reckless passion and murder. A strong-minded young woman, Moll, breaks free from her controlling family and falls for enigmatic stranger Pascal, who may just be a serial killer… Both Moll and Pascal have their secrets and their dark side and both feel themselves to be outsiders in a claustrophobic community that expects conformity. “Beast” explores this volatile relationship to the full, ratcheting up the suspense while skilfully defying genre expectations. A most impressive directorial début indeed, with incendiary central performances.

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