Ben Affleck Directs Crime Thriller Animals on Netflix

Ben Affleck's sixth feature as director has finally hit Netflix, and it's a crime thriller that raises more questions than it answers.

At least one animal makes an appearance in the film, but the real curiosity is whether anyone informed Affleck about Spike Lee's reimagining of High and Low, Akira Kurosawa's 1963 masterful marriage of police procedural and domestic drama. The influence is clear: Animals borrows heavily from its source material.

The plot follows a wealthy protagonist who has risked everything to make a fortune, but kept his wife in the dark about the gamble that could wipe them out. A disenfranchised outsider seethes with resentment as he plots against the family. When things go awry during a botched kidnapping, tensions rise and class divisions are laid bare.

Animals' reliance on Kurosawa's classic is striking, but it makes no acknowledgment of its inspiration. Maybe this was due to rights issues? Whatever the reason, the film lifts most of its foundational plot elements directly from High and Low.

The class divide between loyal staff and well-heeled employers casts a harsh light on social inequality in Animals. However, the movie rarely shows its teeth, failing to deliver on its full potential.

Ben Affleck directs and stars alongside Kerry Washington in this passable but unremarkable thriller. The supporting cast includes Gillian Anderson, Adriana Paz, Ray Fisher, and Steven Yeun.

The narrative of "Animals is built around Mark Kimball, a mayoral candidate who has made a name for himself by working with various organizations to rebuild the city after devastating wildfires in 2025.

As a Gulf War veteran and former law enforcement official, Kimball's credentials are impressive. He has also made an effort to connect with immigrant communities, often speaking Spanish during campaign appearances. However, his team is aware that he still needs to boost support among Latino voters if he hopes to win the election.

The addition of Dayle Burton, a high-end fixer played by Gillian Anderson, injects some much-needed energy into the film. Her character's calm and collected demeanor makes her a standout in the movie, particularly when she reminds her clients that they will have to pay $1.4 million for her services - or double that if she needs to introduce kinetic energy into their situation.

Anderson brings a level of sophistication and style to the film, often seen wearing a sleek white suit and sporting fabulous hair. Her character's presence raises the stakes in several key scenes, making it clear that some characters are willing to do whatever it takes to achieve their goals.

Sam Allison, Kimball's campaign advisor, is aware of the importance of securing the Latino vote for his candidate. He reminds Kimball that he needs to focus on boosting support among this demographic if they hope to win the election, highlighting the challenges and complexities of modern politics.

As the camera pans across a Mexican American family, it becomes clear they are central to the story unfolding on screen. Mark's smooth-talking persona takes center stage as he makes grand promises to voters in TV spots, assuring them of his integrity and respect for their equality.

However, behind closed doors, Mark's marriage is far from perfect. His wife Abigail, a therapist with a keen insight into human psychology, seems to be hiding secrets of her own. A subtle tension lingers beneath the surface of her interactions with her husband, hinting at a deeper issue that may soon come to light.

Abigail's affair with Ron, a UCLA teacher, has been ongoing for months, and she is torn between pursuing a future with him and considering the potential consequences on their family dynamics. Her young son Denny is particularly vulnerable in this situation, and Abigail worries about losing his trust if she were to abandon her husband at such a critical time.

In an effort to boost their campaign's chances of success, Sam pushes for increased ad spending, even if it means putting the candidate's assets at risk. Mark is hesitant to put up their family home as collateral, but Sam remains convinced that this gamble will ultimately pay off and secure their victory in the election.

The plot thickens in this thriller as the Kimballs are faced with a desperate decision. A ransom demand has been made for their son Denny's safe return, but what makes things more complicated is that the kidnapper has mistakenly taken Hector, the son of undocumented ranchero Ramon.

As Cecilia and Ramon frantically search for Hector, they are met with skepticism by Mark and Abigail. The Kimballs' financial struggles have left them vulnerable to the demands of the kidnapper, who insists on a $7 million ransom despite the mistake. This creates tension between the two families as they navigate their difficult situation.

The well-oiled plot machinery is in place, but the action becomes increasingly stagnant as the story unfolds. The revelation of Abigail's extramarital affairs adds an extra layer of complexity to the narrative, leading to tense discussions with Mark.

Meanwhile, downstairs, Dayle remains a calm and composed presence. As someone who has experience resolving high-stakes situations involving public figures, she is uniquely positioned to help navigate this crisis.

Her professionalism and composure are on full display as she works behind the scenes. Notably, her ability to remain unflappable in the face of chaos is a testament to her skills and experience.

The contrast between Dayle's composed demeanor and the increasingly tense atmosphere upstairs highlights the challenges facing the Kimballs and the ranchero family.

The film's action scenes, particularly the drop-off sequence, fail to live up to their full potential due to earlier scenes that dilute any sense of surprise or tension.

In contrast to his earlier directorial efforts, such as Gone Baby Gone and The Town, Affleck struggles to balance character-driven drama with action and violence in Animals. This is evident in the film's use of gritty locations, including those in the city's under-policed northeast, which could have added depth to the story.

The execution of confrontations in the film becomes increasingly complicated and messy, undermining the tension that should be building towards the climax. This is particularly noticeable during a key scene in the L.A. River channel, where the concrete-lined setting fails to add any real sense of foreboding or danger.

A subsequent scene, which involves the clean-up of multiple bodies and an elaborate rewriting of the narrative, strains credulity and does a disservice to the Mexican characters involved. This moment serves as the final nail in the coffin for what had previously been a somewhat engaging but flawed story.

Despite some strong performances from supporting actors, including Paz and Méndez, the film's leads - Affleck and Washington - fail to generate much chemistry or tension between them. Even Yeun, who has a reputation for playing complex characters, is relegated to simply looking shady in his scenes.

The film Animals falls short in delivering a complex exploration of its themes despite its promising setup. A more satisfying thriller would delve into the intricacies of moral choices and marital trust, but Animals barely scratches the surface.

High and Low, another crime thriller directed by a well-known actor-turned-director, proves to be a more engaging watch that effectively tackles various social issues. It outshines Animals" in its nuanced portrayal of the consequences of capitalism and class divisions.