I've just seen 'Beast', which has been described as 'Jaws with paws' (a car being attacked by a ferocious, wounded lion), and thought it was terrific and even better than Jaws. It's a curious film, dismissed by many as a B-movie, that seems to divide viewers sharply into those who think it's total crap and those who think it's great. I belong to the second class. It's just so gripping from beginning to end, and so well crafted. In fact, I think it's about the most terrifying two hours I've ever spent in a cinema. I'm not someone to want to put my hands over my face ever in the cinema, but I only refrained from doing so at key moments, because I'm a film-maker and wanted to savour the craft. I found the relentless suspense absolutely gruelling.
But, as I say, the curious thing is that for many people it doesn't work at all. As was shown when I came out into the foyer and found that we were divided into two sharply different camps: those who hadn't been frightened at all and those, like me, who were literally shaking.
It's almost like a masterclass in suspense, brilliantly shot, and with a good script with well-developed characters.
Towering, unsurprisingly, over the other great actors is the great Idris Elba, who here gives an Oscar-worthy performance.
But it's so good in so many other ways, mostly technical. The CGI with the lion (created entirely in CGI - no real lions were used in the entire movie, apparently, except for some small amounts of credited stock footage) is absolutely incredible - just 100% realistic, and shows just what a long way CGI has come even since The Life of Pi. If it doesn't take the Oscar for best digital effects I'd be astounded.
Many critics have said words to the effect that it's ridiculous and far-fetched, apparently forgetting that the essence of cinema is the suspension of disbelief. This it right up there with the best of Hitchcock and Spielberg.
