Animale (2024)

-Written by Kyle Bain. 

As Nejma (Oulaya Amamra) trains to become the local bullfighting champion, she finds herself having fallen victim to a wild bull attack when out one night. Animale is a horror film that looks to analyze how trauma affects us, and how it alters our perception of reality. 

Animale is a straightforward narrative that tells a relatively simple tale of trauma altering the trajectory of Nejma’s life. However, there are pieces missing throughout the entirety of the film, and Writer-Director Emma Benestan and Co-Writer Julie Debiton aren’t subtle in allowing viewers to understand that we aren’t being given the whole story. The truth is obvious, but the way in which Benestan and Debiton frame this film allows that truth to remain hidden in plain sight, but just firmly out of reach for viewers. Additionally, Animale is so spectacularly immersive that there were moments in which I forgot that I was looking for answers and became completely content with just going along for the ride. Animale is well paced, well structured, and effectively framed in order to keep viewers present, while keeping them just sidetracked enough that they likely won’t uncover the truth on their own. 

Every bit of this film aims to develop intensity and suspense, as it’s important that the overall tone of the film mirror Nejma’s inner struggles. Benestan accomplishes this wonderfully, again, using everything available to her to develop something genuine and accessible in Animale. 

Intense music is the most prominent factor in helping to develop that aforementioned dark and harrowing tone. Light and color certainly play a role in developing the tone of Animale, but it’s ultimately the score that most effectively heightens the drama and continues to drive Nejma and her story forward. The emotional apex that Animale reaches again and again throughout ultimately stems from the powerful score that accompanies the most challenging and emotionally draining moments of the film. 

As previously mentioned, there’s mystery hidden beneath the surface, but as we near the conclusion of the film, a fucking brilliant twist reveals itself. While it doesn’t feel like a complete surprise, it's not something that I was anticipating–making this shift not only incredibly welcome, but brilliantly effective. Animale ends on a dreadful emotional low that comes to exist as a result of this reveal. Animale is dark throughout, but becomes far darker and more twisted in the final ten minutes or so. As viewers are left feeling crushed, it’s nearly impossible not to feel conflicted in your feelings. The heaviness of Nejma’s story remains heavy and accessible, but there’s something relieving about the way in which Animale concludes. Everything makes sense, the film is wrapped up neatly, and this hard-hitting drama feels absolutely complete as a result. Animale was enjoyable from start to finish, but it ends so wonderfully that it becomes more than just enjoyable. Animale is breathtaking. 

Directed by Emma Benestan. 

Written by Emma Benestan & Julie Debiton. 

Starring Oulaya Amamra, Damien Rebattel, Vivien Rodriguez, Claude Chaballier, Elies-Morgan Admi-Bensellam, etc. 

9/10 = DROP EVERYTHING AND WATCH IT NOW