Are you an adrenaline junkie? Then this movie will definitely get you your fix.
The film begins by introducing you to the main characters of the film – a widowed husband taking his two daughters on a trip to a game reserve to help them reconnect with their roots, and to remember their late mother. It is also quick to get you acclimated to the undercurrent emotions flowing between the three, noting strong feelings of regret and disappointment some of them have for each other.
The film gives you just enough breathing room to let you get attached to the characters. And when you do, the trouble begins.
The big bad in this film is a menacing lion hellbound on ravaging anyone in its path, and immediately puts the family and their old friend – a wildlife biologist – in danger. Terror and suspense fill the gap between dread and panic, and the use of long takes (where a single scene feels like it is filmed continuously without cuts) makes you feel like you are right there with the characters, being hunted as preys.
The acting is also top-notch – Sharlto Copley is absolutely charismatic and sympathetic as Martin Battles, the family friend who is responsible for guiding the family around the reserve. Meanwhile, Hollywood A-lister Idris Elba exudes star power and plays the flawed father down to every minor nuance – even the timbre of his voice makes you feel for him, and feel just how much he is keeping himself together for the sake of his two daughters.
The girls, played by Iyana Halley and Leah Jeffries, also put on outstanding performances. Here’s a fun-fact in case you didn’t already know: Jeffries is the new Annabeth Chase in Disney+’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians!
In terms of writing and storytelling, the family dynamic portrayed is also pretty realistic. There’s resentment, there’s love, and everything else in between because no family is perfect. And while the movie focuses on the threat of the lurking animal, it also carries a whole lot of heart, which really anchors the movie.
Everything boils down to one thing. No matter what species you are, the rule remains the same: you must fight for your family.
*Cover image via Universal Pictures
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