The Beast Within – Review | Fantasia (3/5)

THE BEAST WITHIN is a werewolf movie starring Kit Harrington, but the young Caoilinn Springall steals the show as his daughter. Screened for Fantasia 2024. Read our full The Beast Within movie review here!

THE BEAST WITHIN is screening at Fantasia 2024 and the new werewolf movie tells a story through the eyes of a child. As it turns out, this is a brilliant new take on the subgenre and offers some different insights.

The movie was previously titled What Remains of Us, but the final title speaks more to the werewolf angle. As it turns out, this is more about the world as seen through the eyes of a child, which is scary enough in its own way.

Continue reading our The Beast Within movie review below. Screened for Fantasia 2024.

Childhood horrors as experienced by a child

Witness a story about a creature that strikes at the full moon but is experienced through the eyes of a child. It’s part magic and fairytale but becomes darker, more frightening, and strangely exciting as the story progresses.

The Beast Within features a father with a secret he is fighting to keep under control. His daughter is confused and intrigued by his mysterious excursions at night. She wants to understand what’s going on.

She also lives with her kind and loving mother, who does all she can to protect her daughter. As does the grandfather, who lives in a trailer placed right next to the old house. Looking for answers, the young girl discovers the truth, which leaves her forever changed.

Caoilinn Springall shines

While Game of Thrones star Kit Harrington is used to sell the movie (and plays a key role), Caoilinn Springall (The Midnight Sky, Stopmotion) absolutely steals the show. Don’t get me wrong, Kit Harrington is really good in The Beast Within, but he isn’t the star.

Everything we see and experience is via Caoilinn Springall’s character as his daughter. If anything though, these two make each other better. Both deliver intense and heartbreaking performances as the story evolves.

Also great in this movie are the two remaining key characters. The caring mother of the young girl is portrayed by Ashleigh Cummings (NOS4A2) and the ever-supporting and loving grandfather is played by James Cosmo (The Kindred, Braveheart).

Watch The Beast Within in US theaters

Director Alexander J. Farrel (Refugee) is the director of The Beast Within. The esteemed documentary filmmaker is making his narrative storytelling debut with this movie. And he debuts with a dark tale about the impact of childhood trauma.

While there are many layers to the story, you can decide to watch it as a simple werewolf movie, if that’s what you want. However, as the story is experienced through the eyes of a child, there is more to it than what we initially see.

Childhood is magic and can be fear of things we don’t understand. For the girl in this movie, her world includes her family being haunted by a creature that stalks at the full moon. She has her small family with her, but it’s also torn apart by this darkness.

THE BEAST WITHIN is screening at Fantasia 24 but will also be in US theaters on July 26, 2024.

Details

Director: Alexander J. Farrell
Writers: Alexander J. Farrell, Greer Ellison
Cast: James Cosmo, Ashleigh Cummings, Kit Harington, Caoilinn Springall