Ben Affleck's Political Thriller 'Animals' Deemed a Muddled Attempt at Moral Complexity
The Netflix film, starring Affleck as a mayoral candidate embroiled in a kidnapping plot, is criticized for its convoluted narrative and unsatisfying conclusion.
Ben Affleck returns to directing and stars in "Animals," a political suspense-thriller now available on Netflix, which chronicles a Los Angeles mayoral candidate entangled in a kidnapping plot. The film's production was marked by significant changes, including initial casting of Matt Damon and Jennifer Garner, Affleck's ex-wife. Damon eventually departed to film "The Odyssey," leading Affleck to cast himself in the lead role and replace Garner with Kerry Washington to avoid personal awkwardness.
The plot centers on Mark Kimball (Affleck), an independent mayoral candidate facing a tight race against the incumbent. Facing financial strain, Kimball's campaign manager, Sam (Steven Yeun), suggests mortgaging the family home, a move unknown to Kimball's wife, Abigail (Kerry Washington), who is also having an affair.
On Halloween night, as Kimball and his wife argue about the mortgage, they receive a call from a kidnapper demanding $7 million for the ransom of their son, Denny, who was out trick-or-treating. The situation is further complicated by the fact that the Kimballs employ Cecilia (Adriana Paz) as a housekeeper, but not her boyfriend Ramon (Luis Gerardo Mendez), who is undocumented. The kidnapping risks exposing Ramon's status and jeopardizing Kimball's campaign, which relies on Latino voters. To manage the crisis quietly, Sam enlists Dayle Burton (Gillian Anderson), a morally ambiguous fixer, to provide the ransom money and guide Kimball through negotiations.
"Animals" has been compared to "Highest 2 Lowest" and "Ransom," set against a backdrop described as "Trumpish America."
Gillian Anderson's performance as the "flinty fixer" has been singled out, with critics noting her enjoyment of the role.
The film has been described as a mix of an issues-based thriller and pulp fiction. While Affleck, co-writing with Connor O. McIntyre and Billy Ray, appears to aim for serious moral quandaries, the narrative has been deemed overly complicated and thematically muddled. Despite skilled direction and a screenplay riddled with contrivances, the film remains largely watchable until its ending, which struggles to resolve its intricate plot points and thematic explorations of moral compromise. The review concludes that "Animals" is Affleck's least satisfying directorial effort due to a lack of clarity.
Critics have recommended skipping the film, suggesting audiences expect more from Affleck, who previously directed "Argo" and "The Town."