Beast (2017)

Directed by: Michael Pearce | 107 minutes | drama | Actors: Johnny Flynn, Jessie Buckley, Geraldine James, Charley Palmer Rothwell, Hattie Gotobed, Trystan Gravelle, Emily Taaffe, Shannon Tarbet, Tim Woodward, Olwen Fouéré, Oliver Maltman, Claire Rafferty, Richard Laing

Barely five years ago, Michael Pearce was still walking door-to-door in London with a clipboard, recruiting donors for charities. He was making eight pounds an hour. And that while his former classmates from the film academy all made careers as television directors. It took some effort, but Pearce is apparently a man of principles and he made a deal with himself that his career as a filmmaker would be all or nothing. He didn’t feel like ‘working himself up’ in a roundabout way, so he took another job to make ends meet. Meanwhile, he worked hard on the ideal script; he further developed his filmmaking skills by making short films. The big inspiration for his breakthrough film – because that much desired breakthrough would eventually come in 2017 – was psychopath Edward Paisnel, who years ago terrorized Pearce’s native island of Jersey by breaking into houses and lifting the children from their beds and taking them away. As Pearce delved into the events, he discovered that Paisnel’s wife knew nothing about it. “Most people then think: of course she must have known. But an important characteristic of psychopaths is that they can be very charming. So it may well be that their partners have no idea.” It was precisely this aspect that fascinated him so much that he wanted to tell his debut film ‘Beast’ (2017) from the perspective of the ignorant wife/girlfriend.

We meet Moll (an overwhelming Jessie Buckley), a grown woman who still lives with her parents in Jersey. Her father is demented and cannot be left alone, her mother (Geraldine James) is a rather dominant woman who likes to keep her daughter under her thumb. Her sister Polly (Shannon Tarbet) is married and casually announces that she is expecting twins on Moll’s birthday – what should have been her party. For Moll is yet another confrontation with her shortcomings – because why is she not yet married? – the last straw: she leaves her birthday party to let loose at the only club on the island. She hooks up with Leigh (Charley Palmer Rothwell), but when he intrudes, she doesn’t like it anymore. The mysterious Pascal (Johnny Flynn) comes to her rescue. Moll is immediately fascinated by him, and the feeling is mutual. Her family, especially her mother, is strongly against Moll associating with Pascal; he has a dubious past, is maladjusted and has no affiliation with the close-knit (and oppressive) local community. In addition, the island is ravaged by a serial killer who targets teenage girls and young women, and as an outcast you quickly become a suspect. Moll is torn between her family and her love for Pascal. One minute she seems convinced he can’t have anything to do with the murders, the next she’s in doubt. And what about her own past? Because Moll herself also has a lot on her plate.

‘Beast’ is a psychological thriller that brilliantly plays with the viewer’s expectations. No character is all good or all bad, but we don’t see them as complex as Pascal and especially Moll. The crucial question is: how guilty or innocent are they? Moll is so strongly attracted to Pascal because she believes that ‘he is just like her’. But is that really so? In the world of ‘Beast’ it turns out that there is a beast in everyone, no matter how innocent they seem. Moll is oppressed by her family, which is a horrible way to treat someone. Police officer Clifford (Trystan Gravelle) turns out to have a hidden (though, hidden?) agenda and several islanders are wearing masks. Pearce cleverly deceives his viewers, because who should we really sympathize with? Who deserves our sympathy and who turns out to be a wolf in sheep’s clothing? Is the fear that a character instills in us justified, or should we be afraid of another character?

The film is supported by great performances by the relatively unknown protagonists Jessie Buckley and Johnny Flynn. Irish native Buckley gives an acting masterclass here; her range ranges from small and subtle to grand and emotional. With a wild look, a trembling eyelid or an icy scream, she manages to penetrate all our pores. Flynn, who comes from South Africa, may have less of an impact on the whole, but he gives Buckley a good counterbalance with a balanced performance. Both characters are inscrutable and mysterious and Buckley and Flynn splash off the screen. In the isolated, oppressive and particularly atmospheric setting of Jersey, Pearce knows how to give his protagonists all the space they need to shine. With the help of terrifying flashbacks, he creates an atmosphere like in a fever dream from which there is no escape. ‘Beast’ is grim, dark and cynical, but above all an impressive showpiece for director and writer Michael Pearce as well as actress Jessie Buckley. We will be hearing a lot more about that!