Ben Affleck stars in "Animals," a political thriller set during the final days of a mayoral campaign in Los Angeles. Affleck portrays Mark Kimball, a Persian Gulf War veteran and affluent lawyer whose public image of decency and fairness begins to unravel amid a mounting personal and political crisis.
The story unfolds largely within the confines of Mark's upscale home, where tensions escalate as multiple pressures converge. Mark's wife Abby, played by Kerry Washington, is involved in an extramarital affair. Meanwhile, Mark’s political adviser, Sam (Steven Yeun), urgently seeks additional funds to bolster his declining poll numbers. Complicating matters further, their housekeeper Cecilia (Adriana Rojas) requests employment for her undocumented fiancé Ramon (Luis Gerardo Méndez). The crisis reaches a breaking point when Mark receives a ransom call from a man claiming to have kidnapped his son and demanding $7 million for his release.
Throughout the day, Mark’s personal and professional worlds collide, with his handling of the crisis directly influencing his standing with a key voter demographic. The film introduces Dayle (Gillian Anderson), a psychological fixer tasked with navigating the turmoil. Despite her calm demeanor and expertise, her role and motivations remain ambiguous.
"Animals" draws narrative inspiration from classic political dramas like John Ford's 1962 film "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance," yet its execution has been met with mixed reactions. Cinematographer Robert Elswit employs dynamic camera movements in an attempt to heighten tension, but these efforts are often seen as insufficient to overcome the film’s challenges.
Written by Affleck, Connor O. McIntyre, and Billy Ray, the script has been described as overwrought, featuring clichéd political rhetoric and inconsistent character behavior. Affleck’s direction, notable in his previous works such as "Gone Baby Gone," "The Town," and "Argo," struggles to maintain narrative momentum here. One unusual directorial choice includes delivering significant portions of speeches in Spanish, a detail that some viewers find impressive but ultimately tangential to the story.
The film’s climax has been criticized for unclear motivations and awkward staging, leaving audiences potentially confused about the resolution and character intentions. Overall, "Animals" attempts to combine personal drama and political intrigue but falls short of sustained engagement due to its convoluted plot and uneven pacing.