Idris fights a lion and poor writing to save toothless survival thriller.

I love Idris Elba. You love Idris Elba. We all love Idris Elba.

In an era when the brutal exposure of an actor’s every foible is a strikingly regular occurrence, it’s no mean feat that Elba remains one of the most likeable in the game. It’s a unique brand of grounded likability that so few in Hollywood possess, and one that goes a long way to explaining the man’s irrepressible star power.

Sure, he’s had his fair share of stinkers through the years, but even in his worst movies, Elba is never less than magnetic. The charm, the down-to-Earth personality, the striking good looks, the rock solid acting chops; Elba manages to shine in almost anything he does.

However, for a star that shines brightest when in good company, what happens when he’s quite literally thrown into the lion’s den and left to fend for himself?

Returning to South Africa, where he first met his wife, recently widowed Dr Nate Samuels (Idris Elba) plans to take his two daughters on a long-planned trip to a game reserve managed by old family friend and wildlife biologist, Martin (Sharlto Copley). What begins as a journey of healing swiftly turns into a fearsome fight for survival when a lion, a survivor of poachers who now sees all humans as the enemy, begins to stalk them.

As low expectation cinema goes, Beast may well be the apex. Going into it, there really isn’t an awful lot to the film to get you excited, and while that doesn’t necessarily mean the film’s premise is bad per se, it all feels so strikingly derivative.

Picture survival classics like Jurassic Park, Jaws, and even Predator and sub in Idris Elba and a CGI lion and you’ll get a pretty accurate idea of what to expect. As film pitches go, “Idris vs lion” is impressively straightforward, so with your expectations set accordingly, Beast manages to deliver exactly what it promises. No more, no less.

From start to finish, this is Idris Elba’s movie. With only (the always welcome) Sharlto Copley and the two young girls playing his daughters by his side, Beast is very much a vehicle for Elba, and despite the pressure of carrying the entire film on his shoulders, he more than steps up to the mark.

Constructed entirely around Elba and one singular concept, Beast really is the kind of mid-budget star vehicle you rarely see these days, let alone in an actual cinema. It’s very presence in 2022 feels like an anomaly and a throwback, one that shows little concern for venturing outside its limited setup, clearly happy to sit back and let its star do all the heavy lifting.

Thankfully, however, Elba does a more than adequate job of elevating the material, as he quite literally bleeds for the cause and embraces the challenge of being Beast’s sole focus. Showcasing physicality without heading too far into action-man territory, Elba is able to ground material that could easily come off as silly, with some nicely downplayed character work and an admirably straight-shooting approach.

Although all too brief at times, Elba strikes up some good chemistry with Copley, while his relationship with his two daughters is sweet, despite how soapy and stilted their dynamic gets at times. Unsurprisingly, however, the biggest selling point to Beast isn’t the relationship between Dr Samuels and his friend or even his daughters, but between him and a rampaging, bloodthirsty lion.

While the film’s first act is all steadily plotted set up, Beast’s final two thirds give you all the payoff you could ask for. Composed of surprisingly decent CGI, the lion itself strikes an imposing figure and its frequently fearsome cat and mouse battle with Dr Samuels and co feels adequately brutal, while remaining both thrilling and entirely believable.

Offered a limited setting and an even more limited script, Elba manages to wrestle both the lion and film itself into shape through sheer force of will, turning something that could’ve easily fallen flat into something very watchable, if not particularly original.

And it’s this discernible lack of originality that really lets Beast down. Despite Idris Elba’s best efforts, from beginning to end, the film doesn’t have an original bone in its body, and while that’s not a deal breaker for the level of b-movie thrills Beast aims for, it’s hard not to feel underwhelmed by the lack of effort put in to try something, anything, different.

Whether it’s the predictable plotting, commically poor writing, cliched dialogue, or the distinct lack of visual flair, there really is little to stand Beast out from the crowd. Granted, the survival thriller isn’t particularly known for its originality, however, even in a sub-genre as derivative as this, Beast demonstrates a severe lack of defining features.

Yet, despite all this, Beast never once feels like it’s short changed you. There really is no hiding from what the film is, and there’s an honest, straight-shooting nature to the whole thing that’s actually rather endearing.

From poster to trailer, you’re promised Idris Elba throwing down with a lion and that’s precisely what you get. Sure, there’s an environmental message and some family drama thrown in for good measure, but it really is little more than loosely packed padding around the film’s basic thrills.

Clocking in at a nippy 90 minutes, the film is a relatively lean beast that packs in just enough survival thrills to deliver on its promises. Offering solidly constructed tension and well timed, if predictable, jump scares, director Baltasar Kormákur offers the kind of low-investment, mid-budget thriller you rarely see on the big screen these days.

And for those just in this for a little bloody Idris action? Well, you’re sure to go home happy. While he’s certainly had more challenging roles in his time, it should never be underestimated just how tricky it can be to carry an entire movie on your shoulders, yet Elba does just that, delivering a powerful, purring performance that elevates the entire film.

With tension and bloodshed steadily ramped up, Elba isn’t afraid to do the necessary dirty work as he’s batted back and forth across the screen by his lion foe, coming up adequately battered and bruised while retaining his fearsome star quality. Which, let’s be honest, is precisely what you’ve paid your hard earned money to see.

While it may be lacking in bite, Beast nevertheless delivers on its modest promises. With a bloodied and bruised Idris Elba powerfully leading the line, Beast overcomes its distinct lack of originality and subpar writing to offer efficient man vs beast survival thrills that hits hard, hits fast, and never outstays its welcome.