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Plot Summary
Now on Digital HD. Teeming with magic, beauty and pure joy, this crowd-pleasing winner at the Sundance Film Festival has emerged as one of the year’s most acclaimed films. Newcomer Quvenzhané Wallis delivers an “Oscar-worthy performance” (Philadelphia Daily News) as Hushpuppy, the tenacious six-year-old force of nature in an isolated bayou community. When her tough but loving father Wink (Dwight Henry) succumbs to a mysterious malady, the fierce and determined girl bravely sets out on a journey to save him. But Hushpuppy’s quest is hindered by a “busted” universe that melts the ice caps and unleashes an army of prehistoric beasts.
Rotten Tomatoes Movie Reviews
TOMATOMETER
86%- Reviews Counted: 182
- Fresh: 156
- Rotten: 26
- Average Rating: 8.1/10
Top Critics' Reviews
Fresh: Beasts of the Southern Wild is sheer poetry on screen: an explosion of joy in the midst of startling squalor and one of the most visceral, original films to come along in a while.
Fresh: What is also extraordinary is that almost all the people we see are actors. So this is not a documentary but a moving enactment by people who are themselves moved.
Fresh: This movie has to be seen to be believed, and to be believed, it simply has to be seen.
Fresh: When can we watch it again?
Customer Reviews
A BEAUTIFULLY BIZARRE SLICE OF AMERICANA
Take "Where the Wild Things Are", mix it with "Radio Flyer", throw in Hurricane Katrina and a little bit of "Deliverance", and you've got "Beasts of the Southern Wild", a beautifully lush and refreshingly imaginative film that's literally unlike anything you've ever seen. It's the story of a six-year-old girl named Hushpuppy (Quvenzhané Wallis), who lives with her tough but loving father Wink (Dwight Henry) in a bayou community cut off from the rest of the world by a sprawling levee. Buoyed by her childish optimism and extraordinary imagination, she believes that the natural world is in balance with the universe until a fierce storm changes her reality. Desperate to save her sick father and sinking home, our tiny hero sets out on a journey of epic proportions in order to repair the structure of her world. First-time director Benh Zeitlin has created a complete universe with this film. From the makeshift boats to the crab-claw feasts, every element of this movie feels lived in. "Beasts" also features one of the most memorable soundtracks in recent memory and the cinematography is simply breathtaking (though it does have that shaky camera aesthetic that some people hate). While the universe he has created is indeed spectacular, Zeitlin's script is not quite as solid. Mostly told in voiceover by the young Wallis, the story of "Beasts" can be somewhat challenging to follow. This is a world that runs on its own rules, and some may be confused by its more bizarre elements, like the metaphorical creatures in the title. Inconsistent storytelling aside, it's Wallis' unforgettable performance as the tenacious Hushpuppy that truly takes center stage here. Her often profound dialogue and effortless charisma help give this film its dreamlike quality, which is impressive considering the fact that Wallis had zero acting experience at the time of filming. With its eccentric premise, breathtaking visuals, and vibrant performances, "Beasts of the Southern Wild" is an enchanting gem of a film; a modern American fairy tale that boldly celebrates the indomitable power of the human spirit. It may not appeal to everyone due to some of its obscure art house qualities, but for any film enthusiast, this low-budget masterpiece is a must-see.
Best movie, ever.
This movie had a tremendous impact on me, visually, emotionally, spiritually. I am sad to see bad reviews and wonder if some people just don't get it. This movie is what art is all about - reaching inside the human mystery and touching us an a poetic way that helps us make sense of things that cannot be understood, like death, love, and the entirety of the human heart. I guess if you're more prone to watch Adam Sandler movies, this one's not for you. Otherwise, buckle up and enjoy a film experience like no other. We are lucky to have this movie in our world.
I loved every minute of it!
Some reviewers were depressed by this movie, but I think that depression is based on pity. Big shocker, there a people who live in this world who don't have what you have and they enjoy their lives and they prefer their lives to yours.
Just because there is pain and death in your life does not mean that you can't be happy.
I loved this movie so much, as someone who grew up in a poorer neighborhood with nature, and old buildings as my playground I can totally relate to the wonders of this film.
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- $14.99
- Genre: Drama
- Released: 2012
- © 2012 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All rights reserved.