Overview and Production Background
Animal, a horror-thriller film released in 2014, was directed by Brett Simmons while Thommy Hutson and Catherine Trillo served as writers. The film was produced by Flower Films, which is owned by Drew Barrymore, and Chiller Films. It is a tightly paced creature feature that blends elements of classic slasher films as well as survival horror. At roughly 86 minutes, the film conveys its message about trust, fear, and primal survival through a single wooded setting.
The film was shot in Manchester, Connecticut. Animal takes advantage of its limited location to create a trapped, cacophonous world where its characters are forced to face a terrifying creature alongside deeply rooted interpersonal conflicts. The film’s first release was a home premiere on the Chiller network, followed by a release on home media.
Plot Summary
The film begins with two couples, Carl and Vicky, and Douglas and Barbara, escaping through a dense forest. A menacing, unseen beast is pursuing them, amplifying the couple’s palpable fear. Early in the escape, the character Barbara’s death marks the beginning of a somber tone for the remainder of the film.
Later, a college friend group consisting of Alissa, her boyfriend Matt, half-brother Jeff, Mandy (Jeff’s girlfriend), and Sean gather at the forest for their hiking trip. Alissa specifically looks to retrace her steps to a childhood waterfall, but instead, the group stumbles upon a dismembered corpse—shattering their plans and revealing the presence of a deadly predator.
After Jeff’s death, the remaining group head to a cabin for shelter, where they meet Vicky, Carl, and Douglas—the cabin’s other occupants and survivors of the earlier attack. Despite providing a degree of refuge, the cabin proves to be a temporary solution. The creature is relentless and demonstrates a frightening level of intelligence and rational thinking.
Amidst the growing panic, tensions rise as well. In particular, Douglas’s survivalist approach sparks outrage. He advocates for the group to forgo the injured Matt and leave him behind. Secrets come to light, too: Mandy reveals that she is pregnant while Sean confesses to cheating on Jeff—creating emotional rifts within the group.
Carl succumbs to injuries from the second creature while the others attempt to escape the first. The remaining group devises a frenzied scheme to capture the monster with kerosene and fire. Alissa lures the creature, and they burn it to ashes. Nonetheless, a second creature attacks, killing Sean and Vicky. In the end, Mandy takes off in a car after ramming the beast, but a third creature is suddenly shown approaching the place, suggesting several more.
Main Cast and Characters
Elizabeth Gillies as Mandy: A headstrong and conflicted character, she is the last to survive as the rest perished.
Keke Palmer as Alissa: A member of the group. Her boldness and leadership skills are put to the test as the group begins to fall apart.
Jeremy Sumpter as Matt: Alissa’s boyfriend. He is hurt in the beginning, serving as a moral checkpoint for the group.
Parker Young as Jeff: Alissa’s half-brother. He is one of the first people die during the second creature attack.
Paul Iacono as Sean: One of the survivors of the incident. His emotionally unstable behavior and his relationship with Jeff adds drama to the frightening ordeal.
Amaury Nolasco as Douglas: A survivalist from the older triad. His calm, harsh rationality causes strife through coldly logical, harsh choices.
Joey Lauren Adams as Vicky: A more hopeful and emotionally grounded survivor attempting to cling onto optimism.
Thorsten Kaye as Carl: A character whose efforts to escape prove to be equally hopeful and fatal.
Eve as Barbara: Her death in the first scene establishes the story’s consistent violent undertones.
Mike J. Regan as The Creature: A horrific predatory being covered in practical effects for added realism.
THEMES AND STYLISTIC ELEMENTS
Survival and Morality
The primal concern within Animal is ethics in a survival scenario. Douglas’s existing resolve to kill Elise so that he can live unhampered clashes with the group’s willingness to risk their lives in a collective decision showcasing a lack of morality and empathy. This friction creates the major portion of the internal conflict.
Trust and Betrayal
The revelation of Sean and Jeff’s affair catalyzes distrust within the group, weakening their cohesion just when they need it most. These emotional scars and conflict simultaneous to an exodus of physical violence reveal that complexity of emotion can often prove just as dangerous as the violence waiting outside.
Nature as a Predator
The dense and dark woods feature alongside an equally desorienting terrain as well as echoing sounds, serving as a character within itself. Nature acts as a force that shelters the monster while embodies a predator that swallows those who roam too far from safety.
Creature Design and Practical Effects
In Animal, the creature is practically brought to life through practical effects creating a tangible and grotesque presence. Its design displays traits of intelligence and bestial ferocity. The film’s focus on practical effects over digital CGI gives it a gritty edge.
Critical Reception
Critics and audiences have mixed perspectives on Animal. Its praised creature design, fast pacing, and use of practical effects bolstered the film’s reception. Performance wise, Palmer and Gillies’ emotional draama voices were regarded as strong anchors.
Notably, the film is noted for providing straightforward horror without excessive jump scares or visceral gore. Additionally, while the plot may be viewed as familiar, the confined setting alongside a single-location story added to the tension.
Still, some critics pointed out the film’s use of tropes, like the group of teenagers archetype, the cabin-in-the-forest trope. Additionally, there seemed to be some emotional development in the film that felt rushed even if characters were given some depth.
Regardless of criticism, most agree that Animal is an ignored creature-feature that is entertaining. The movie undoubtedly meets expectations of delivering suspenseful horror featuring a significant monster.
Conclusion
Animal (2014) does not attempt to reinvent the horror genre, and instead focuses on hosting a well-paced plot within a well-acted movie. Its place in the creature feature genre is well earned, as it has a skilled cast, sharp pacing, and a well-designed monster. The animal attacks layered with the suspense builds tension and excitement effortlessly.
Fans of classic horror cinema are sure to find enjoyment in this movie which touches on survival horror, personal relationships, and action. The last scene of the movie where more monsters are possibly hinted at adds a chilling yet exciting finish and invites the viewers to imagine more.
Those looking for a strong female lead or two alongside a suspenseful storyline featuring a terrifying creature, will enjoy Animal, as it is simple and straight to the point, but most importantly, it bites and sticks with you long after viewing.
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