Written and directed by Alan King, Beast follows author Vincent (King) in the midst of a downward spiral. The man has sequestered himself in the British countryside to complete his first novel. However, Vincent constantly feels the presence of something unseen around him. Unfortunately, the people orbiting the writer are left with the aftermath as the titular beast makes itself known in violent, horrific ways. Vincent seems to blame himself for these attacks, but did they truly occur? Or is the beast just the way an overly imaginative writer deals with grief, loss, and pain?
King’s fantastical drama’s anything but ordinary. The filmmaker often stops the narrative for asides but who this or that side character is. Frames freeze as fates are expounded upon. Interestingly, Vincent never gets off easy in these scenes, always befalling some injury or mishap whenever the beast attacks. Whether this style is a way to keep the attacks off-screen for budgetary reasons or a meta-exploration of perception, King makes it work and feel organic to the very ambitious story he’s telling.
“…Vincent constantly feels the presence of something unseen around him.”
Beast is roughly 1 hour and 46 minutes long, and every moment is stuffed to the gills. Vincent becomes homeless and befriends a fellow unhoused person named Jesse (Christopher Kirby). While not happening until halfway or so through (sort of, as time is definitively not linear in this plot), it becomes the catalyst for a much-needed change. But Jesse then messes up badly, putting their friendship to the test. There’s also a subplot involving Jesse and his ex, as well as the writer and his editor. Then there are the unruly townsfolk who seemingly mock the author but, maybe, want to embrace his notoriety from the beast attacks.
Throughout it all, King gives a calculated and intense performance. He’s likable, irritating, and morose. The actor makes the uncertainty of reality believable by playing it completely straight. Vincent never questions if this or that is true; it all just is. This adds fuel to the meta-fire in unexpected ways.
Beast is a drama that focuses on the perception and reactions of just one man, Vincent. In this way, Alan King really hones in on the character’s mindset, allowing viewers to understand everything he does, no matter how questionably moral. Is the beast a metaphor or an actual being haunting the lead? No matter how viewers read the end, they will not soon forget the journey there.
For more information about Beast, visit the White Cube Picture Lab site.
