Beast Beast
**Seen at the 2020 Atlanta Film Festival.
Two wrongs do not make a right in “Beast Beast.” There are three wrongs that take place at the end of this movie, and that does not make it better. For much of Danny Madden’s film, he explores three individuals, two of whom are connected, as they work their way through life and social media culture. Near the end, they all end up connected in a tragedy that was completely avoidable, though, given the direction they were go, it was inevitable.
Nito (Jose Angeles) starts out the movie as something of a loner. He enjoys skateboarding, and he has some great videos online that he’s made, and show some real talent. He meets a guy outside his apartment building who invites him to a party. The party will result in actions that get him suspended, giving him time to spend with his new friends and what they do, but also meeting Krista (Shirley Chen).
Krista is a drama nerd whom is sometimes having a hard time accessing her emotions for her acting. We see the actors all together, at the beginning of the film, chanting “Beast Beast” in unison as a warm-up exercise. She also video tapes herself. Nito is immediately smitten with Krista, and it was Krista’s “honor,” if you want to put it that way, that he was defending, getting into a fight at the party. They start to see one another- they share a smile that is infectious.
The third main character is Adam (Will Madden). He’s a bit older than Krista and Nito, and he is a bit listless in his life. He also makes videos, but they are YouTube videos. His subject is guns, and specifically, safety for the home, and personal protection. Good idea, but he doesn’t really get the reception he would like, and his parents- whom he still lives with- are concerned about his future. He will eventually refine his approach, but when it doesn’t result in the reception he’d like, he gets upset, which will lead to life-changing decisions.
None of these characters are perfect, but all of them are sympathetic. We see how their choices sometimes lead to a positive view of themselves, but also, to their own mistakes. Madden’s approach is empathetic towards all, although it’s not quite as compelling as it would like to be. The strongest tension and drama in the movie takes place in its final act, which is brutal and painful, and hits all the emotional notes it wants to hit. That’s where it succeeds the strongest, when all is said and done.
