The Animal Kingdom (2023) Movie Review

 In "The Animal Kingdom," a film by Thomas Cailley, the hustle and bustle of daily life intertwines with a fantastical twist. Picture this: stuck in traffic, a father scolds his son for feeding potato chips to the family dog. Typical, right? But suddenly, a bizarre incident unfolds before them - an ambulance swerves erratically, unleashing a bird-like figure onto the scene.

This peculiar occurrence is just the tip of the iceberg in a world where some humans are undergoing genetic mutations, transforming into creatures straight out of a sci-fi tale. 

These hybrids 

- part-human, 

part-beast 

- are shunned by society and confined to hospitals or zoo-like enclosures for fear of their potential danger. Sounds like something out of a movie, doesn't it?

But amidst this fantastical chaos, the film doesn't lose sight of everyday struggles. We follow Émile, the son, as he grapples with familial conflicts, school woes, and the gradual realization that he, too, is undergoing a transformation.

Cailley cleverly uses these fantastical elements as a metaphor for society's response to health crises. Just like how some countries ostracized HIV/AIDS patients in the past, these mutated individuals are feared and isolated. The film reflects the political turmoil and societal divisions that arise when dealing with such issues, drawing parallels to recent events like the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the midst of masking, testing, and isolation, life goes on - and "The Animal Kingdom" offers a timely reminder of the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity. So buckle up and immerse yourself in this captivating blend of reality and fantasy.

In the midst of all the chaos, Émile's school crush and François' budding romance with a cop named Julia take a backseat to the overwhelming challenges of mutation and grief. It's hard to focus on anything else when you're in the thick of it, even with the picturesque backdrop of the French countryside captured so beautifully by David Cailley.

Romain Duris delivers a stellar performance as a father just trying to navigate through the madness, while Paul Kircher expertly portrays his son's struggles with teenage angst and newfound animal instincts.

"The Animal Kingdom" is a unique tale, akin to "X-Men" without the superpowers. It delves into the ostracization of those who are different, showing us enough of the chimera-like creatures to understand their plight and the fear they evoke in others. These "strange days" have become the new normal, where even mundane arguments about potato chips and cigarettes persist amidst the turmoil.

The movie effectively draws us into the plight of the outcasts while highlighting how humanity can become monstrous in its quest for order. Life may be complex, but it always finds a way to move forward.