The Animal Kingdom, visionary director Thomas Cailley‘s follow-up to his critically acclaimed debut Love at First Fight, promises to take audiences on an eye-opening and uncomfortable journey into a disturbing near-future world. In this dystopia, a mysterious wave of mutations has begun gradually transforming some humans into unsettling hybrid creatures.
At the heart of the story is a family broken by the mother’s infection, leaving the father François (Romain Duris – Heartbreaker, Final Cut) and 16-year-old son Émile (Paul Kircher – Winter Boy) to grapple with drastic changes. As some of the creatures disappear into a nearby forest François desperately tries to save his afflicted wife, embarking on a quest to find her, aided by Emile and a local police officer (Adèle Exarchopoulos).
Having premiered as the opening night selection of Cannes’ Un Certain Regard, and nominated for 12 César Awards, The Animal Kingdom releases in theaters and on demand today March 15th, 2024 via Magnet.
In an exclusive interview, Cailley gave fascinating insights into the film’s core coming-of-age story and how the disturbing mutation metaphor impacts every aspect of the narrative. By focusing on the intimate personal journey of the protagonist, Cailley brings humanity and emotional resonance to this chilling futuristic setting and you can read our full review here.
