I was not able to catch Beasts of the Southern Wild in theaters, but it has arrived on Blu-ray and DVD Combo pack from Fox Home Entertainment. Directed by Benh Zeitlin this dramatic fantasy takes audiences on a journey fueled by a child's imagination, folklore and Hurricane Katrina. It looks like one perpetual Instagram feed, but from someone that's a fantastic photographer.
The film follows Hushpuppy (Quvenzhané Wallis), a precocious 6-year-old girl living with her tempestuous father, Wink (Dwight Henry), on a remote Louisianna island known as “the Bathtub.” When a flood of Biblical proportions threatens to wipe out their ramshackle community, Wink spearheads the group of locals that attempts to ride it out. His increasingly restless daughter, however, seizes on the opportunity to explore her independence and re-imagines her displacement as a quest to find her absent mother.
This doesn't fit in with most of the other movies that I have reviewed for GeekTyrant, but it is one that I highly recommend. Beasts takes you out of your comfort zone, making you appreciate the safety and security that you have in your life. I found it hard to handle seeing the conditions that the characters lived in on a daily basis, but then realized that they were happy with their existence. Having lived through Hurricane Irene and Sandy in New Jersey, I have a small understanding of what it feels like to feel cut off from the rest of the world. The inhabitants of the Bathtub are just that, people that live on the fringe of society that have been forgotten by the world.
The performances are fantastic, especially by newcomer Wallis. The performances felt so raw and real, and exude emotions. I highly recommend you watch the included auditions of Wallis and Henry that are included on the Blu-ray. Another impressive factor about this film is the effects that were done on a shoestring budget. The dream moments of the hogs running through the street terrorizing the buildings is simply fantastic. There are many other breathtaking moments throughout the film that warrant praise.
Special Features:
- The Making of Beasts of the Southern Wild
- Theatrical Trailer Sneak Peek - This section includes a theatrical trailer for Stoker, which is awesome, as well as a Blu-ray Experience clip, Fox World Cinema and a trailer for The Sessions.
Blu-ray Exclusive Special Features:
- Deleted Scenes with Commentary by Director Benh Zeitlin
- Auditions Quvenzhané Wallis Dwight Henry Quvenzhané Wallis and Dwight Henry
- Glory at Sea Music The Aurochs
Beasts of the Southern Wild is available now on Blu-ray and DVD. I would be willing to bet that it will be nominated for an Academy Award, so check it out now and enjoy.
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