Beasts of the Southern Wild: Movie Review

Beasts of the Southern Wild: Movie Review

Cast: Quvenzhané Wallis, Dwight Henry and Levy Easterly
Director: Benh Zeitlin

A heady, visceral and tender tale of life, love and our connection to the world, Beasts of The Southern Wild took the New Zealand International Film Festival by storm when it opened there in July.

It's the tale of six year old Hushpuppy (Quvenzhane Wallis), who lives with her father in the Bathtub, a southern New Orleans delta continually threatened by rising flood waters. But, so in love with the land around her, she doesn't want to leave and her father refuses to evacuate them. 

When a storm comes though, and devastates their community, the pair trawl through the Bathtub trying to find survivors as they negotiate their way out of the Bathtub. But, events are conspiring against Hushpuppy and soon, her father's health is a major issue.

Replete with an impressive lively OST and anchored by one of the strongest child performances seen on celluloid for a long time, Beasts of The Southern Wild  is a unique vision of life and a joyous celebration of what binds us to the land and each other. 

But it all rises on the central performances of the child and her father - and thankfully by looking at life from the eyes of a kid, it's an insightful view which offers up a truly rewarding experience. When Hushpuppy accidentally starts a fire, she hides in a box, figuring that if she can't see the flames, then they don't exist. It's this magical kind of innocence which pervades Beasts of The Southern Wild throughout and proves majorly beneficial to this fable, which has echoes of Katrina etched throughout.

Thanks to mystical creatures known as the Aurochs and stunning cinematography, this vision of life may not be for everyone, but in terms of offering something new and riveting on the big screen, it more than delivers.

Rating: