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    Movie Review

    Even Idris Elba can't make lion vs. man movie Beast roar

    Alex Bentley
    Aug 18, 2022 | 1:00 pm
    Idris Elba, Sharlto Copley, and Iyana Halley in Beastplay icon
    Idris Elba, Sharlto Copley, and Iyana Halley in Beast.
    Photo by Lauren Mulligan Universal Pictures

    Even though animals on Earth have been counted and studied exhaustively, the sheer number of them — around 1-2 million different species — makes many of them unknowable. Perhaps that’s why many movies have felt comfortable making them into monsters, as fear about the unknown — especially something that has sharp teeth and claws — is one of the most potent fears there is.

    The new movie Beast takes a slightly less demonizing approach to the genre, attempting to ascribe some kind of reason behind its titular animal’s motives. The film centers on Dr. Nate Samuels (Idris Elba) and his two daughters, Meredith (Iyana Halley) and Norah (Leah Jeffries), who have traveled to South Africa in the wake of the death of Nate’s ex-wife/the kids’ mother. There, they meet old friend Martin Battles (Sharlto Copley), who — among other things — tries to protect the local lion population from poachers.

    While Martin is showing the family around the countryside, they discover evidence of a lion attacking humans at will. They soon run into that lion and, after a few unfortunate turns, become trapped in their vehicle as it stalks them relentlessly. They must fight for survival amid its constant attacks and hopefully find some way out of the seemingly insurmountable situation.

    Directed by Baltasar Kormákur and written by Ryan Engle, the film does a decent job in the action/thriller part of it, keeping things intense by never knowing how and when the lion will attack next. The main lion and other animals seen in the film appear to be computer-generated, but the up-close manner of the scenes rarely reveals any faults in the look of the creatures.

    The story theorizes that, after seeing its entire pride decimated by poachers, the central lion decides that any human it encounters is a threat that must be eliminated. While that works well enough as an explanation for the lion’s behavior, the filmmakers struggle to ascribe any logic to the conduct of the humans. Time after time, especially in the case of Meredith, they decide to put themselves in unnecessary danger, a sure sign that Engle is trying to manufacture drama instead of creating it more naturally.

    The strange decision-making is not done any favors by the inane dialogue. While the two young actors give good performances for the most part, they’re saddled with just plain bad lines that make it seem like their characters are devoid of any common sense. The filmmakers try to give the story an emotional through line with the absence of the wife/mother, but they fail to dig deep on the strained relationship between Nate and his kids.

    Elba has a natural presence that makes him watchable no matter what, but even he is undone by the poor writing. Copley, who broke out in 2009’s District 9, is the obvious choice as the South African guide and he makes for solid support. Halley and Jeffries should each have a bright acting future, but they’re hamstrung by the script.

    In the annals of man vs. animal films, Beast winds up ranking low. It gets points for at least an attempt to empathize with the lion’s “point of view,” but the tension is undercut by the downright strange reactions each of the characters has to their dire situation.

    ---

    Beast opens in theaters on August 19.

    Idris Elba in Beast.

    Idris Elba in Beast
      
    Photo by Lauren Mulligan/Universal Pictures
    Idris Elba in Beast.
    movies
    news/entertainment
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    This week's hot headlines

    Death of Dallas Caramel Company founder leads week's most-read stories

    Stephanie Allmon Merry
    Jun 14, 2025 | 10:00 am
    Dallas Caramel Company
    Dallas Caramel Company
    Dallas Caramel Company

    Editor's note: It was a newsy week in Dallas. Sadly, the founder of a Dallas sweets company passed away; there was also news of a new gourmet European market in the works and peach cobbler coming to DFW Airport. Here's a chance to get caught up on the week's most-read stories, and here's help planning a fun weekend.

    1. Dallas Caramel Company founder Rain McDermott dies at 52. Dallas entrepreneur Rain McDermott, who founded artisan caramel maker Dallas Caramel Company when she was only 34 years old, died after a battle with breast cancer; she was 52.

    2. Gourmet European Market to open in north Dallas with pierogi and more. A new food shop with a distinct European flair is coming to Dallas: Called Gourmet European Market, it's opening at 17435 Preston Rd., in a shopping center south of Frankford Road, where it will feature food products from all over Europe but with a special focus on the Eastern European countries of Poland, Germany, Ukraine, Russia, Georgia, Israel, and Bulgaria.

    Gourmet European Market Polish gingerbreadPolish gingerbread at Gourmet European Market.Photo courtesy of GEM

    3. Chef and caterer opens Southern to-go cafe south of Dallas. A chef and caterer has opened an eponymous to-go cafe south of Dallas: Called The Cedric Frazier Experience, it’s an upscale soul food kitchen located at 103 Waller St., in Red Oak, where it opened on June 7.

    4. Dallas cuts slack on senior homeowners with new property tax exemption. Dallas seniors who own a home got cut a break: On June 11, the Dallas City Council approved additional property tax relief for senior and disabled homeowners by increasing the city’s property tax exemption for residents who are 65 or older or disabled.

    5. Peach cobbler concept to open 2 locations at Dallas-Fort Worth Airport. Southern desserts are coming to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW): The Peach Cobbler Factory, a chain based in North Carolina, will open not one but two locations at the airport. The first DFW location will open in Terminal D in late 2025; a second location will open in the new Terminal C Pier in 2026.

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