Bertrand Bonello’s The Beast plunges viewers into a world where fear is palpable, relentless, and inescapable. Inspired by Henry James’ haunting short story “The Beast in the Jungle,” the film weaves together three timelines, all set in the same vexed universe. The central character, Gabrielle Monnier (played by the superb Lea Seydoux), is a popular Parisian concert pianist who harbors an unnamable fear. As the cataclysms unfold—both spiritual and physcial—Bonello delivers not just a densely packed art movie but arguably the most potent horror picture of the decade.
The film’s dread isn’t abstract; it’s instinctive. Gabrielle’s fear isn’t merely conceptual—it’s a force that manifests physically. Bonello masterfully captures the degrading noise of contemporary life, immersing us in a world where beauty and terror coexist. The 1910 flood of France’s City of Lights serves as a backdrop, but the real menace lies within Gabrielle herself. Louis (George MacKay), the young Englishman with whom she forms a tentative courtship, becomes entangled in her fear. Their relationship isn’t the source of trouble; rather, it’s the impending catastrophe that looms over them. No matter how they try to alter reality, horror remains unavoidable.
Bonello’s direction, though ambitious, occasionally falters. The connective tissue between timelines weakens, leaving the narrative fragmented. Still, the impact of The Beast lingers. It’s a human drama wrapped in a sci-fi framework, and it demands contemplation. Lea Seydoux’s controlled performance anchors the film, and the eerie atmosphere seeps into our consciousness. As Gabrielle grapples with her fear, we’re reminded that beauty and chaos coexist, even in the darkest times.
In one memorable scene, Gabrielle reassures Louis, “There must be beautiful things in this chaos.” But Bonello’s greatest dread lies in the emergence of a terrible order—one that could obliterate any remaining beauty. As the film hurtles toward 2044, we realize that the beast isn’t lurking in the jungle; it’s within us, in the very air we breathe. Bonello’s vision transcends genre, blending horror, drama, and existential unease The Beast invites us to confront our fears head-on, urging us to be afraid—very afraid.
Email:neill@outloudculture.com
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