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Every family has its share of secrets—though some are much darker and more dangerous than others. And in The Beast Within, a young girl learns about her family’s secrets and begins to fear what they could mean for her—and the people she loves the most.
The Beast Within tells the story of a family living with a dark secret. Ten-year-old Willow (Caoilinn Springall) lives with her parents, Noah and Imogen (Kit Harington and Ashleigh Cummings), and her grandfather, Waylon (James Cosmo), on a remote compound, far from other people. Willow knows that something strange is going on in her family. Each month, her parents leave before nightfall, but they refuse to talk about it. It isn’t until she follows her parents deep into the woods and witnesses her father’s horrific transformation that she begins to understand.
So much of this film rests on the shoulders of one little girl—and Caoilinn Springall gives a remarkable performance as Willow. She’s such a sweet and trusting little girl, whose questions and suspicions turn into terror once she discovers the truth. The film is definitely a slow burn, offering glimpses into the family’s dark secrets while gradually building to the inevitable horrors. It’s quietly suspenseful, set in an eerie and shadowy old house in the middle of nowhere, with its peeling plaster and minimal conveniences. But viewers experience most of the film’s horrors through the eyes of smart and perceptive Willow.
Still, while the family tiptoes around Noah’s monstrous secrets, the film isn’t just about a kind, caring father who just happens to turn into a monster once a month. Harington’s Noah can definitely be a charming character, but he can also be cruel—and his transformations aren’t quite as predictable as the full moon. The filmmakers weave in a story not just of supernatural horrors but of human ones, too. At times, though, they do so with such subtlety that it’s hard to see what they’re trying to tell us—and if you’re not expecting it, you might miss it. And that can sometimes make it a difficult film to follow.
If you can follow the hints and the clues along the way, though, The Beast Within tells a story that’s as heartbreaking as it is terrifying. It may not be a relentless horror film with non-stop scares—but the young star’s noteworthy performance helps to build enough tension that it will hold audiences’ attention.
The Beast Within arrives in theaters on July 26, 2024.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
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