‘Animale’ Movie Review [Fantastic Fest 2024]: Emma Benestan’s Brutish Horror Drama Works Best In Ambiguity

Photo from Fantastic Fest

From Jeff Nelson

The literal and symbolic transformation from human to animal has always held power in storytelling’s examination of our primal emotions and desires. Werewolves are an entire sub-genre, where some interpretations choose to keep a two-legged creature that maintains a somewhat human form. Not entirely man or beast, but something stuck in between. Emma Benestan’s Animale puts a bullfighting spin on it to mixed results.

Nejma (Oulaya Amamra) trained to join the local bullfighting competition, seeking to prove herself capable of the victory. After a night of celebrating with her challengers, a bull attacks her and leaves her with a hazy memory. Meanwhile, a rogue bull terrorizes the community when local men start turning up dead.

Benestan’s screenplay develops a link between Nejma and the bulls, relating more with the animals than her fellow man. She develops a special connection with a bull named Thunder, seeing greater humanity in his big, black eyes than the sexist community that will never fully embrace her. Nejma’s mother is the only woman in her life and the only person who worries about her well-being in the bullfighting world. Their family suffered great loss at the hands of this industry, creating a special connection to the animals and the land beneath their feet.

The drama in Animale is rooted in Nejma desperately trying to fit into a masculine microcosm, where any compliment relating to the bullfighting sport ends in “for a girl.” She retreats deeper within herself, as the joy and passion slowly slip away. The story hits a static note and remains at that frequency, failing to build on Nejma’s character or the supporting cast. It leaves the drama without anywhere to go.

On the surface, the horror comes into play with the rogue bull that keeps turning up one deceased young male body after another. However, a darker tone runs through its veins in Nejma’s loss of identity and the nagging feeling that she’s turning into a bull herself during her blackouts in a situation reminiscent of The Wolf Man. Ruben Impen’s striking cinematography captures some haunting images, elevating the movie's most successful and discomforting elements.

Animale captures a visceral mood and a compelling world that doesn’t dig deep enough beneath the surface of a thin narrative all too light on thematics and characters. Benestan slowly builds upon the film’s feminine fury burning underneath its cold, masculine surface with style. Still, the cumulative effort is unbalanced and not nearly as affecting as it feels it ought to be.

Rating: 2.5/5

Animale played Fantastic Fest 2024 on September 20th, 2024.

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