Pedro Pascal Stars in Tony Gilroy's Atonal Drama

Key Points:

• Tony Gilroy’s “Behemoth!” is an elegant, elusive character study about Alex Sarian, a cellist who returns to Los Angeles after 20 years and reconnects with his past through working on film scores, blending memory and music in a non-traditional narrative style.
• The film uses movie music as a portal to explore how people move through time, focusing on Alex’s complex relationships and personal history rather than a conventional plot, with subtle performances and a structure that mirrors the protagonist’s search for his own tempo in life.
• Pedro Pascal delivers a restrained performance, portraying Alex’s ambivalence toward his career and family legacy, while the film’s multiple composers contribute diegetic scores that enhance the story without overshadowing the emotional core.
• “Behemoth!” eschews typical Hollywood storytelling in favor of a Proustian reverie, emphasizing the process of personal reconciliation with one’s life soundtrack, culminating in a quietly powerful finale that rewards patient viewers.
• The film premiered at the 2026 New York Film Festival and will be released by Searchlight Pictures on December 4, receiving a B+ grade for its thoughtful, unconventional approach to cinema and music.