‘Animals’ Review: Ben Affleck’s Netflix Thriller Has Zero Highs, Many Lows
TheWrap • • entertainment
Key Points:
- "Animals," a new kidnapping thriller on Netflix, is a low-budget remake of Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 classic "High and Low," starring and directed by Ben Affleck, who also co-wrote the film.
- The plot centers on Mark Kimball (Affleck), a financially troubled mayoral candidate whose son is kidnapped, leading to a tense night of moral dilemmas and personal crises.
- Critics describe the film as predictable and lacking emotional depth, with characters who fail to reveal new facets of themselves under pressure, resulting in a listless and uninspired remake.
- Gillian Anderson and Luis Gerardo Méndez deliver notable performances, but the material overall is seen as uninspired, with Méndez’s character offering the only hint of complexity.
- Despite Netflix's resources, "Animals" feels like a half-hearted project, reportedly incorporating AI in its production, and fails to bring fresh energy or risk to the familiar story.
