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Only the Animals

Play trailer 1:53 Poster for Only the Animals Released Oct 29, 2021 1h 57m Mystery & Thriller LGBTQ+ Play Trailer Watchlist
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93% Tomatometer 56 Reviews 81% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
Following the disappearance of the glamorous and secretive Evelyne Ducat (Valeria Bruni Tedeschi) during a blizzard in the highlands of southern France, the lives of five people inextricably linked to Evelyne are brought together to devastating effect as the local police investigate the case.
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Only the Animals

Only the Animals

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Critics Consensus

Deft direction and an expertly assembled ensemble further elevate Only the Animals' intelligent, absorbing mystery.

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Critics Reviews

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Ed Potton Times (UK) Seventy years after Kurosawa did it in Rashomon, this terrific French thriller proves there's plenty of juice left in the idea of revisiting the same events through the eyes of different characters. Rated: 4/5 Dec 7, 2021 Full Review Dave Calhoun Time Out The film's emotional side is well-handled, helped by strong performances across the board. But it's the storytelling puzzle - the pile-up of different perspectives and gradual reveal of the facts - that makes it most worthwhile. Rated: 4/5 Dec 7, 2021 Full Review Brad Wheeler Globe and Mail One or two of the story turns are far-fetched, but the delicious absurdism of the situations are worth any contrivances. Only the Animals unfolds beautifully. Nov 3, 2021 Full Review Emiliano Basile EscribiendoCine The connections between the characters go from unexpected to weird, inclusively bordering on perverse. [Full review in Spanish] Rated: 6/10 Aug 18, 2022 Full Review Alejandro Lingenti La Nación (Argentina) No heroes or redemption in this macabre tale in which Moll confirms his status as an explicit and obstinate pessimist. [Full review in Spanish] Rated: 3/5 Aug 18, 2022 Full Review Ezequiel Boetti Otroscines.com Grey and Grim like its characters... [Full review in Spanish] Rated: 3/5 Aug 17, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Jason R I really liked this - it's very clever https://uberscaryblog.blogspot.com/2021/06/im-here-to-see-papa-sanou.html Rated 4 out of 5 stars 04/20/23 Full Review Kevin L I should've watched this one sooner. Then again, I would'nt have had the great pleasure of seeing it tonight. What an impressive piece of writing and directing by Dominik Moll. The screenplay by Moll, along with Gilles Marchand and Colin Neil, is an intricate tightrope to walk, with its convoluted connections of characters, time, and actions. It's a film about the dangers of deception and infidelities, of the desperation that poverty and desires can push us into, and those who are hurt in the crossfire. Moll keeps things tight and flowing with an incredibly deft skill in pacing and well-realized characters . We come to know each of the main figures just well enough that we feel the authenticity of their emotional reactions and can appreciate the actions they take out of their desperate straits; out their perception of those they are using or those they desire most. But no one is safe in "Only the Animals". The victims and the victimizers are hurting, but their efforts to relieve that pain are misguided, or outright criminal. But sense when does clouded judgement or impulsive emotional reaction lead us to rational, mature actions? The acting is superior in general. Valeria Bruni-Tedeschi, Laure Calamu. Denis Menochet, and Nadia Tereszkiewic are especially good. And Damien Bonnard is convincing as a man in his own arrested development; frozen in a static state of loss and isolation. The Robbe-Grillet-esque manner in which the characters are so intertwined like some network of actions and reactions, continually surprises and explains when/why/how what we've seen already went down. One choice, one sudden impulse, one calculated act triggers another, with unfortunate results and no happy resolutions. Damn nice work, Moll, writers, and cast. 3.8 stars Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 11/24/22 Full Review Audience Member Incredibly well written!!! I watched it because appeared listed in the best thrillers section of the golden tomatoes 2021, it was the last one but at least for me is the best one in the list, Titane and Azor were good and interesting but this one is soooo good! If you are a thriller junkie you''ll love this film!!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review kevin c Riveting French film which centres around a woman who has gone missing and explores the stories of the five people linked to her disappearance. Really well written and acted by the ensemble cast. Engaging from the start with some genuine surprises mixed into the story. Well worth checking out. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review the s The best film I've seen for 2021, hands down. Well scripted and acted, a touch of Cohen Bros, a taste of irony and some suspense thrown in. Well done. And granted, it didn't take a whole lot to be the best movie of 2021 (I know it's from 2020 but I just saw it so it's new to me) but leave it to a French film to kick the butts of the mindless, copy cat Americans who seem wholly committed to just making the same film over and over for 5 decades in every genre. Script on this is solid, acting was super good. They didn't feel obligated to jam in hyper cool music to appease the hipsters, didn't need big name celebrities or any kind of crazy special effects. Just a talented writer, talented director, a great script and some talented actors. That's all it takes, Hollywood. Remember back when you used to follow the same formula back before you just started making lowest common denominator drivel with zero creativity or originality? Americans, take note. This is how you make a solid film. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member The best film ever saw. Everything ties in and works together so perfectly. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/03/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Only the Animals

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Cast & Crew

Movie Info

Synopsis Following the disappearance of the glamorous and secretive Evelyne Ducat (Valeria Bruni Tedeschi) during a blizzard in the highlands of southern France, the lives of five people inextricably linked to Evelyne are brought together to devastating effect as the local police investigate the case.
Director
Dominik Moll
Producer
Simon Arnal, Caroline Benjo, Barbara Letellier, Carole Scotta
Screenwriter
Gilles Marchand, Dominik Moll, Gilles Marchand, Dominik Moll, Colin Niel
Distributor
Cohen Media Group
Production Co
Haut et Court, France 3 Cinéma, Razor Film Produktion GmbH
Genre
Mystery & Thriller, LGBTQ+
Original Language
French (France)
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 29, 2021, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 30, 2021
Box Office (Gross USA)
$9.1K
Runtime
1h 57m
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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