An emotionally raw, heartfelt, and extremely realistic depiction of the loss of a child. A heartbreaking story that deals with the grief and guilt, and how the individual deals with it.
On the surface this may seem a subject that has been depicted countless times over the years. However, Beast No More feels very different to any other film dealing with similar themes. Although there are horror elements, it is far more a psychological, character driven film. One that is difficult to describe as it does not fit easily into any one genre.
From the opening scene Jessica Tovey’s beautifully nuanced performance as Mary Jane is the heart and soul of the film, an actress who says more with one look than with pages of dialogue. Every emotion Mary Jane goes through is felt in each scene she is in. In a role that many actors would have struggled to depict, she brilliantly makes her a realistic character. The film is at its very best when she is on screen, as focus shifts in the third act her presence is missed, resulting in a loss of narrative cohesion. Dan Ewing also gives an impressive performance as Jake, Mary Jane’s troubled husband. He and Tovey have some really effective scenes, with a great chemistry between them.
The atmosphere is heightened by the beautifully melancholic cinematography, complemented by a similarly melancholic music score. I would have liked to see some of the minor characters fleshed out a bit more. However, before seeing the film I had read the comic book prequel Beast No More Metamorphosis, which gives more background and substance to these characters, so if you can read the comic it really does enhance the movie.
While not a perfect film, it is held together by a superb performance of depth and complexity by Jessica Tovey.
A very unconventional, character driven, human horror that may not be for some. Despite this I really would not hesitate in recommending it, even to non-horror fans, especially to those looking for something different.
*edited from my full spoiler free review for The Bloody Asylum that can be found on Facebook and WordPress [mrgeekyblog]*
