Animals

 

Co-written, directed by, and starring Ben Affleck, Animals is a political thriller that centers on Mark Kimball, played by Affleck, a wealthy lawyer running for mayor of Los Angeles. His high-stakes campaign and pristine personal life with his wife Abigail, played by Kerry Washington, threatens to crumble after a devastating phone call reveals that their son has been kidnapped for a massive ransom. As they scramble to secure the payout, hidden secrets unravel, dragging them deeper into a web of deceit and dangerous moral compromises.

On screen, the talent was undeniable. Affleck and Washington shared a compelling, grounded chemistry, and the supporting ensemble delivered strong performances across the board. The narrative kicked off with an intriguing, fast-moving premise that successfully kept me guessing, using its central line, “Humans are animals with stories”, to explore sharp themes about family, spin doctoring, and how far someone will go when backed into a corner.

However, despite the strong cast, the film ultimately lacked the directorial punch and kinetic tension of Affleck’s previous work, like The Town or Argo. Instead, it landed in surprisingly mediocre territory, feeling more like a straight-to-streaming title than a cinematic event.

The plot felt long-winded and it built toward a straightforward, lackluster ending rather than a truly shocking payoff. With several unanswered questions left hanging by the credits Animals turned out to be an okay, one-time watch at home, but not a film you’ll feel compelled to revisit.