Beast
Description
Set on the starkly picturesque island of Jersey where someone is murdering young women, Beast details the erotic collision between defiant, copper-haired Moll Huntford (Jessie Buckley) and a mysterious and sexy poacher who is a person of interest in the criminal investigation. With a nerve-jangling sound design and tremendously charismatic lead performances, Michael Pearce’s suspense-filled debut keeps viewers guessing right up to its chilling finale.
“Although the combustible chemistry between the two leads would be sufficient to power a small factory, let alone a film, no less deserving of praise is writer-director Michael Pearce, making his feature debut, who really juices up the pic with stylistic flair and an eye for telling detail.” – Leslie Felperin, The Hollywood Reporter
“British TV director Michael Pearce makes a commanding feature debut with this psychological drama-thriller that puts an eerily windswept island location to fine use and features an excellent lead performance from Jessie Buckley, whose open, intelligent face transmits thought and feeling with piercing clarity.” – Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian
Michael Pearce’s shorts include Madrugada (2008); Rite (2010); and Keeping Up with the Joneses (2013), a BAFTA award winner for Best British Short Film. The director grew up in Jersey where Beast is set and drew on the region’s history for inspiration. “In the ’60s there was a child molester, dubbed ‘The Beast of Jersey’ who kidnapped and assaulted children…Even when I grew up in the ’80s, he was still a specter that haunted the island. It also had a powerful effect on my imagination; that darkness could hide beneath the surface of a seemingly perfect community.” (The Yorker)
Film Details
Language English
Year 2017
Runtime 107
Country UK
Director Michael Pearce
Producer Ivana MacKinnon, Lauren Dark, Kristian Brodie
Writer Michael Pearce
Editor Maya Maffioli
Cinematographer Benjamin Kračun
Music Jim Williams
Cast Jessie Buckley, Johnny Flynn, Trystan Gravelle