The Beasts

"Olga" (Marina Foïs) and husband "Antoine" (Denis Ménochet) have recently located to a remote Spanish farming community where they are trying to make their living in as organic fashion as they can. Their neighbours, "Xan" (an excellent Luis Zahera) and "Loren" (Diego Anido) immediately take against them as they are determined to accept an offer from a wind turbine company that will see them realise some money from their land and offer an alternative to their otherwise pretty subsistence living. What now ensues is one of the finest examples of cinematographic intimidation I have ever seen. Director Rodrigo Sorogoyen allows the tension to build without providing a spark-point. The angry characterisation of the bully that is "Xan" simmers as former teacher "Antoine" tries almost everything to avoid losing his temper. When the pot does over-boil - as is inevitable - the story starts to falls away for me a bit and the last half hour, though poignant, increasingly lacked plausibility. The said, there is a palpable degree of nastiness portrayed here that is way more effective than any you will see in an horror film. The writing is clever and sharp and the exposure it offers us to just how communities can turn on each other when money rears it's ugly head makes this a remarkably effective character study of human nature and venality. Some fine cinematography helps to deliver a perfect scenario for this menacing drama that sees a competent cast knit well and present a truly scary story.

Living in a small town of retarded drunks who take a dislike to me for petty, subconscious reasons is probably my worst nightmare. This film brought my nightmare to life. Scary!

How much spoiler you can put on a poster? All of it it seems...

The movie exposes some of the xenophobe caused by material issues that can happen anywhere in the world, but in Spain in this case against a couple of French that survives by an ecosutenatible live.

The tensions rise up to peak and unavoidable point. Good acting, believable story, hard to watch - but with and open end that we (hope) wish for justice.

A 7.5 out of 10.0 for me, B+. But could be better.

This is a beautifully crafted film inspired by real events, and it’s often unbearably tense. A French couple relocate to a remote Galician town in search of a closer connection to nature, but a simmering dispute with their neighbours quickly spirals out of control.

The neighbours — the Anta brothers — are hostile, frequently drunk, and determined to get their way, while the French couple refuse to sign away their land. Luis Zahera and Diego Anido are superbly cast as the brothers, radiating menace and unpredictability. Whenever they’re on screen, there’s a constant sense that something terrible is about to happen.

The film makes excellent use of long takes, most notably during an extended bar scene where Antoine shares a drink with the brothers — a masterclass in sustained, nerve-shredding tension.

Without giving anything away, the ending may divide opinion. Some will find it satisfying, but I was left feeling frustrated, even angry. Still, this is a highly recommended thriller that repeatedly cranks the tension up to eleven and refuses to let go.