Taut rural thriller from Director Rodrigo Sorogoyen. A French couple; Antonio (Denis Ménochet) and Olga (Marina Foïs) move to Galicia in North Western Spain and start to live a more eco friendly, idyllic life. That is until they fall out with a local family, the eldest brother Xan (Luis Zahera) being the most hostile. What follows is a dangerous feud that is hard to write about without spoiling, but it gets tense. Very tense. There is one superb scene in the local bar that is a single long take, and feels like the characters could erupt at any moment. The acting from Menochet and Zahera at this point is off the charts. It is so natural that the viewer feels like they are sat at a nearby table in the bar looking for the exits. 'The Beasts' probably takes it's name from the annual festival named 'shearing of the beasts' in the Galicia region that involves the locals gathering up the wild horses that roam and branding them. The very first slo-mo sequence shows this taking place. However, there is so much subtext in the film, that the title could refer to the huge wind turbines that dominate the sky line of the region, and provide a driver to the animosity between the two families in the film. It could refer to the outsiders, the beasts who have invaded the Galician land that has been inhabited by the same families for decades. Or it could mean the families themselves who are overly hostile to any form of newcomer to their homeland. Either way, The Beasts is a finely crafted, very well acted thriller which deserves to be seen by many.

The film practices the exercise of increasing tension in which the director feels comfortable, but makes a brave turn in which the point of view is broken, causing less physical but more suffocating anguish. There are great moments in sequence shots that allow the actors to demonstrate their commitment to their characters, and an intelligent reflection on utopias and realities, on empty Spain and irrational hatred. Which places it along with "Speak no evil" as the two most disturbing representations about the human being that have been made this year.

Luis Zahera is amazing. I have really come to feel authentic overwhelmed with the role he plays. For the rest, I found it a bit boring and the ending did not convince me.

I don't know French and without subtitles you don't understand half of the movie. a disaster

Watching As Bestas is an intense experience. For much of the film, you find yourself clenching your fists, a knot in your throat, wishing those two miserable brothers would disappear from the screen. They’re the kind of characters that get under your skin—not just because of what they do, but because of what they represent: blind hatred, violent ignorance, the most savage kind of stubbornness. And the worst part? You know this isn’t just fiction. It’s based on a real case. Sorogoyen handles tension like very few directors can. There’s no forced music or unnecessary cues. Just the weight of silence, of glances, of words left unsaid and those spoken with venom. The bar scene, that interrogation disguised as a casual chat, is so uncomfortable it’s chilling. And when justice finally comes —because it does, even if not in the way you expect— there’s a small sense of relief that doesn’t erase the bitterness. Menochet’s performance is flawless, but Luis Zahera is on another level. He’s terrifying without raising his voice, without doing anything showy. He just is, rotten from the inside out, a constant threat. Marina Foïs also shines in the second half, which shifts the tone but never drops in quality. As Bestas is the kind of cinema that leaves a mark. It’s not a pleasant or easy film, but it’s powerful, brave, and devastating. One of those stories you don’t forget —not just for what it tells, but for how deeply it makes you feel.