New Netflix film starring Ben Affleck and Kerry Washington draws criticism for its weak suspense and lack of emotional depth despite a talented cast.
Director Ben Affleck stars in his film ‘Animals’ which is a political thriller set in Los Angeles. The movie centers on Mark Kimball who is a wealthy lawyer running for mayor of Los Angeles. Mark is married to Abigail played by Kerry Washington and they are deeply involved in a campaign that has nearly drained their finances.
On Halloween Mark receives a scrambled phone call claiming that his son has been kidnapped and demanding a ransom of $7 million. The film’s plot unfolds as Mark and Abigail struggle to decide how to respond. Mark’s campaign manager Sam played by Steven Yeun suggests hiring a fixer to handle the matter.
Gillian Anderson plays Dayle Burton who offers to resolve the situation for a fee.
The story also involves a household dynamic with a Mexican housekeeper named Cecilia and her husband Ramon. The couple’s son is mistakenly kidnapped instead of Mark and Abigail’s son. The discovery creates a difficult moral choice for Mark as he tries to protect his campaign and his public image.
The film explores themes of political ambition and family secrets as well as immigration. Mark’s campaign has been financially strained and he has borrowed against his own home to fund it. Abigail has a secret relationship with another man while Mark remains unaware of her affair.
The film’s structure has been criticized for lacking tension and originality. According to The Guardian the movie is a weak thriller with a lack of narrative depth and emotional stakes. Many scenes are criticized for being dull and repetitive with little visual or emotional development.
The film’s pacing is fast but not enough to make up for its lack of substance. Affleck’s direction is seen as uninspired with a visual style that lacks distinction. Despite its talented cast the movie lacks emotional or narrative payoff.
The ending is described as unfulfilling and not emotionally satisfying. Critics note that the film is a missed opportunity to explore deeper themes. The movie is considered a disappointment compared with Affleck’s previous directing work on films such as ‘Argo’ and ‘The Town.’
The Associated Press gave the film two out of four stars and criticized its lack of energy. Its review also noted similarities to Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 film ‘High and Low’ and Spike Lee’s 2025 movie ‘Highest 2 Lowest.’ Gillian Anderson’s performance was singled out as one of the film’s stronger elements.
It is a film that feels more like a TV show than a cinematic experience. The movie is scheduled for release on Netflix and in select theaters on October 9. Despite its flaws the film has a few moments that nearly work.
Overall it is a watchable but forgettable effort from Ben Affleck.
IMAGE: Ben Affleck testifies to Congress on the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2011.. Photo: Medill DC / Wikimedia, taken 2011-03-08, CC BY 2.0