10-year-old Willow (Caoilinn Springall) lives with her mother (Ashleigh Cummings) and father (Kit Harrington) deep in the woods in a heavily isolated existence apart from civilization. Occasionally in the middle of the night during a full moon, her father and mother covertly disappear into the woods where they do not return until the following morning. One evening, Willow decides to follow them to discover what’s really happening. She sees her mother chain her father to a tree with a pig nearby for him to slaughter. This causes Willow to spiral into a morass of fear and anxiety, not just of what her father really is but of who she may be becoming as well. Is this family secret something that will tear them apart? And what happens when the monster’s fury is finally unchained?
The Beast Within is a complicated film to discuss. The narrative is at times fractured and reality vs. perception is often suspect. We see the world through Willow’s eyes. A child does not perceive things the same way an adult does. Everything is heightened. Shadows are twice and large and more dark than you could conceive. Violence is monstrous, a thing that can erupt and rip an animal apart. Given how much of the film is seen from Willow’s perspective, it’s a good thing Caoilinn Springall is such a strong young actress, conveying the broad emotional range required for such a challenging part. This isn’t just a basic “I’m scared of Daddy” kind of role. Springall conveys a kind of deep-rooted sadness that permeates the film, questioning how such things are allowed to happen while also pondering whether history will repeat itself in her. The father role is a tricky one. The film really does need someone like Kit Harrington to pull it off the way the filmmakers intend. He can’t just be a monster. He must be likable and earn both the viewer’s and his daughter’s trust before transforming into something destructive. Harrington is able to strike this balance rather well, and Cummings as the mother looks as if the weight of the world rests upon her shoulders. In this case, she at least must support it enough to keep it from crushing her daughter. The film is deeply atmospheric with haunting cinematography that utilizes localized light sources amidst darkness to create a dire, isolating mood. Kudos to cinematographer Daniel Katz who had worked on the previous smaller scale horror film House of Darkness. Where the film falls a little flat is I think in the editing. It is paced a bit too slowly to build tension the way the director intends at times I believe, and the way the climax is edited somewhat diffuses the revelatory nature of what is happening. Additionally the CGI is honestly on the weak side. Still, for first time fiction filmmaker Alexander J. Farrell (who had directed three documentaries prior to this), it’s an admirable first effort, and I would be interested in seeing what he tackles next.
Well Go USA has given The Beast Within a very nice, clean digital transfer with consistent deep black levels and no noticeable distortion or corruption of the image. It’s a very dark film at times, so the effort is definitely appreciated. The audio tracks provided include both a 5.1 and 2.0 stereo option. The 5.1 offers a rich, immersive sound design in which to allow the creeping dread of the film to take hold. There are no extras at all aside from trailers, which is a shame. I would have loved to hear the director’s thoughts on the film, how it came together and what he perceives are the prevalent themes.
The Beast Within is a slow burn think piece rooted in sadness and trauma. Those looking for a gory werewolf flick to watch with a group of friends at a party should probably look elsewhere. But for those looking for a deeper experience that prizes mood and ideas over blood may find much to enjoy with this film.