Netflix Thriller 'Animals' Star Ben Affleck and Kerry Washington Draws Comparisons to Kurosawa Classic
In a recent review, Deadline evaluated the Netflix kidnap thriller 'Animals,' starring Ben Affleck and Kerry Washington. The review noted structural similarities to Akira Kurosawa's classic drama 'High and Low' and Spike Lee's recent adaptation 'Highest 2 Lowest,' while pointing out that the film's multiple subplots leave the story stretched thin.
A new Netflix film directed, produced, co-written by, and starring Ben Affleck alongside Kerry Washington has drawn comparisons to classic cinema kidnapping thrillers, according to a film review published by Deadline. The movie, titled "Animals," explores high-stakes drama and interpersonal conflict surrounding an abduction plotline, though critics note the production expands into numerous subplots and narrative twists.
According to Deadline's review, the core premise of "Animals" echoes the foundational narrative framework of Akira Kurosawa’s celebrated 1963 Japanese film "High and Low." In Kurosawa's original drama, a wealthy protagonist is plunged into a moral crisis when extortionists accidentally kidnap the wrong child, forcing the character to weigh financial resources and human ethics. Deadline reported that filmmaker Spike Lee previously adapted Kurosawa's classic in his film "Highest 2 Lowest," which starred Denzel Washington and updated the setting to the contemporary New York City music industry. In Lee's version, the kidnapped child is the son of the main character's chauffeur, posing central questions about class and the relative value of human life.
While Lee's adaptation directly paid homage to Kurosawa's classic work, Deadline reported that official press notes for Affleck's "Animals" make no direct reference to either "High and Low" or "Highest 2 Lowest." Nevertheless, Deadline's review observed that the structural framework of Kurosawa's original story appears to serve as a clear influence on the Netflix release. The review indicated that "Animals" attempts to stand on its own by weaving in several distinct narrative threads, twists, and emotional confrontations between characters played by Affleck and Washington.
In its assessment of the film's execution, Deadline noted that the narrative in "Animals" feels stretched thin across its various storylines and central arguments. Despite the dramatic tension generated between Affleck and Washington's characters, the review questioned the necessity of another iteration following similar kidnapping narrative lines, particularly after Lee's recent project with Denzel Washington. Kulture Newz has not independently reviewed the complete press materials or full production credits for the Netflix feature.