CGI magic can only take a film like “Beast” so far.
The thriller follows a family under siege from an out-of-control lion, one created by Hollywood’s best zeroes and ones.
What the story demands is a human element, a reason to fear the digital creature in the first place.
“Beast” delivers that with its charismatic lead aching to make amends for past mistakes. It’s that element, not the wildly convincing “Beast,” that elevates this woke-free adventure.
Idris Elba stars as Nate, a doctor visiting an old friend in South Africa. That’s Sharlto Copley playing an “anti-poacher,” a man dedicated to keeping the wildlife safe from savage humans.
Nate brought his daughters along for the trip, but Mere (Iyana Halley) and Norah (Leah Jeffries) are more than your average...