Ben Affleck’s ‘Animals’ explores kidnapping, political ambition and family secrets but struggles to sustain suspense.
Kerry Washington and Gillian Anderson deliver notable performances in a thriller hampered by uneven storytelling.
Despite its intriguing premise, ‘Animals’ falls short of delivering a compelling crime drama.
There is something deeply unsettling about discovering what people are capable of when their carefully constructed lives begin to fall apart. Ben Affleck’s ‘Animals’ builds its premise around this uncomfortable truth, bringing together family drama, political ambition, betrayal and a desperate kidnapping crisis.
Unfortunately, despite an intriguing setup and a talented ensemble cast, the Netflix thriller struggles to turn its promising ingredients into a genuinely gripping cinematic experience.
Directed and produced by Affleck, the movie released in 2026 stars Mark Kimball, a rich candidate for Los Angeles mayor whose apparently perfect life starts falling apart when his family and career get messed up by a kidnapping.
Along with his wife Abigail, played by Kerry Washington, Mark is faced with a growing complexity of his situation involving money for ransom, secrets and choices that may change his life forever.
Although the story seems promising with regards to the issues it deals with, the movie often looks more concerned with creating problems rather than delving into the characters' lives.
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At its heart, ‘Animals’ attempts to examine the fragile boundary between public respectability and private desperation. Mark is not simply a father fighting to protect his family; he is also a politician whose carefully cultivated image could collapse with every decision he makes.
The kidnapping places his personal responsibilities in direct conflict with his political ambitions, creating opportunities for genuinely uncomfortable moral choices.
Yet the screenplay, written by Affleck alongside Connor O. McIntyre and Billy Ray, rarely gives these conflicts enough breathing room. Developments arrive quickly, but their emotional consequences often feel underdeveloped.
Instead of allowing tension to build naturally, the film piles one complication upon another, leaving viewers struggling to connect with the characters' predicament.
The story also invites comparisons with Akira Kurosawa’s High and Low (1963), a celebrated crime drama built around a kidnapping and the moral consequences of wealth and social position.
While ‘Animals’ attempts to bring similar questions into a contemporary political setting, it lacks the original's emotional precision and narrative discipline.
Affleck brings his familiar screen presence to Mark, portraying a man desperately trying to maintain control as his circumstances spiral beyond his reach.
Yet, there are times where he shows signs of what lies just below the surface with his understated portrayal. Nevertheless, the script fails to deliver enough emotionally rich material to give credibility to Mark’s decisions.
As Abigail, Washington plays a wife trying to deal with the problems in her marriage and the added complication of a personal family disaster.
She adds another element of complexity to a volatile scenario, but the script makes their relationship a series of repetitious arguments rather than any real emotional struggle.
The supporting players provide a few instances of color. Gillian Anderson steals scenes as Dayle Burton, a cool-headed fixer who brings an interesting element of surprise. Yeun and the rest of the supporting actors provide more dimension, even though they are not always fleshed out to the level of their talent.
One of the major disappointments of the movie is its failure to keep the suspense alive. The movie is a kidnapping thriller and hence every phone call, visitor and minute should have some importance. 'Animals' is sometimes able to give this feeling of suspense, but fails because of its weak storylines and prolonged domestic arguments.
While the cinematography tries to increase the suspense element in the movie, it doesn’t always help due to weak storylines. Another problem with the movie is the balance between the political elements and family issues of the movie.
There are many themes of immigration, privileges, public opinion and the exploitation of tragedy included in the plot of the movie, but they don’t get enough importance.
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The title ‘Animals’ suggests something primal lurking beneath the surface of respectable society: the instinct to protect, the hunger for power and the willingness to sacrifice others when survival is at stake. It is a compelling idea, and the film occasionally hints at the disturbing drama it could have become.
But a strong premise cannot carry a movie on its own. The characters remain difficult to connect with, the twists lack sufficient emotional impact, and the climax struggles to deliver the payoff the story promises.
Affleck has demonstrated his filmmaking abilities with films such as Argo and The Town. Here, however, his ambition is undermined by a screenplay that mistakes complexity for depth and constant conflict for genuine tension.
‘Animals’ is not entirely without merit. Anderson's performance, the central moral dilemma and the occasional glimpse of a darker, more compelling story keep it watchable. Nevertheless, these strengths are insufficient to rescue a thriller that should have been considerably more gripping.
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What is ‘Animals’ about?
‘Animals’ is a 2026 Netflix thriller about a wealthy Los Angeles mayoral candidate whose family faces a kidnapping crisis, threatening his political ambitions, marriage and carefully maintained public image.
Who stars in ‘Animals’?
‘Animals’ stars Ben Affleck as Mark Kimball, alongside Kerry Washington as Abigail. The supporting cast includes Gillian Anderson and Steven Yeun, adding further complexity to the film's tense family drama.
Who directed ‘Animals’?
Ben Affleck directed and produced ‘Animals’, collaborating with screenwriters Connor O. McIntyre and Billy Ray. The film combines political intrigue, family conflict and kidnapping suspense in a contemporary thriller.
Is ‘Animals’ worth watching?
‘Animals’ has an intriguing premise and several noteworthy performances, but uneven pacing, underdeveloped characters and inconsistent suspense weaken its impact. Viewers should keep their expectations modest before watching.
What is the rating of ‘Animals’?
‘Animals’ receives a rating of 2 out of 5 stars. Despite its promising premise and talented cast, the film struggles to deliver the emotional depth and gripping suspense expected from a crime thriller.