Table Of Content
Ben Affleck is back behind the camera with Animals, Netflix’s new crime thriller starring Affleck and Kerry Washington and this is one of those movies where going in knowing as little as possible is probably the best way to experience it.
Premiering on Netflix, Animals wastes little time pulling you into a story filled with secrets, tension and unexpected turns. Just when you think you understand where the movie is going, it takes another sharp turn.
And that unpredictability is one of the film’s biggest strengths.
Ben Affleck Takes a Different Approach
Affleck has already proven himself as a strong director with films like Gone Baby Gone, The Town and Argo, but Animals feels like a different side of his filmmaking.
The movie is darker, more unpredictable and deliberately uncomfortable at times. The writing keeps the audience guessing, while Affleck allows the story to unfold without giving away every answer.
As a director, Affleck knows when to let a moment breathe and when to pull the rug out from underneath the audience.
Kerry Washington and Ben Affleck Bring the Tension
The chemistry between Affleck and Washington gives Animals much of its emotional weight.
Both performances work because neither character feels completely predictable. There is always another layer underneath what we’re seeing, which makes even seemingly simple moments feel important.
Affleck also proves that he can still command the screen while directing, creating a nice balance between his performance and the movie as a whole.
The Less You Know, The Better
This is one movie where spoilers could genuinely ruin part of the fun.
Animals is built around its twists and turns, and the screenplay constantly makes you question what you think is happening. You may think you’ve figured it out, only for the movie to send you in another direction.
That makes it difficult to talk about the plot without taking away from the experience.
And honestly? That’s a good thing.
Animals isn’t going to be for everyone, but for audiences looking for something different on Netflix, it’s absolutely worth checking out.
The writing takes chances, the performances keep the story grounded, and Ben Affleck delivers one of his strongest directing efforts.
Most importantly, Animals doesn’t feel like a movie you’ve already seen a dozen times.
If you’re planning to watch Animals on Netflix, my advice is simple: don’t look up the twists. Just press play.
