One of the 2023 Cannes Film Festival‘s buzziest films finally gets its US theatrical release next month. That’s right, Thomas Cailley‘s “The Animal Kingdom” hits theaters and video on demand in March and also serves as the opening night film of “Rendezvous With French Cinema” in NYC on February 29.
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So why is “The Animal Kingdom” so anticipated? Several reasons, actually. One: it had its world premiere last year as the opening film of Cannes’ Un Certain Regard section. Two: It’s since been nominated for 12 Cesar Awards since it hit French cinemas last October. And Three: it stars two of French cinema’s biggest contemporary stars, Adéle Exarchopoulous and Romain Duris.
In Cailley’s thriller, where genetic mutations cause humans to transform into hybrid creatures, a distraught man and his son search for his wife, who’s mutated and disappeared into a nearby forest.
Here’s an official synopsis for “The Animal Kingdom,” courtesy of Magnet Releasing:
MAGNET invites you to screen THE ANIMAL KINGDOM, a visionary new thriller that drops viewers into an extraordinary world where mutations in human genetics cause people to transform into hybrid creatures, François does everything he can to save his wife, who is affected by this mysterious condition. As some of the creatures disappear into a nearby forest, François embarks with Emile, their 16-year-old son, on a quest to find her with help from a local police officer.
Along with Exarchopoulous and Duris, “The Animal Kingdom” also stars Paul Kircher. Cailley pens the film’s script with Pauline Munier. Tom Mercier, Billie Blain, Nathalie Richard, and Saadia Bentaieb round out the main cast. Studiocanal handled the film’s international release, while Magnet Releasing distributes “The Animal Kingdom” stateside.
As noted earlier, “The Animal Kingdom” screens next at “Rendezvous With French Cinema” at Film At Lincoln Center on February 29. Then the film hits US theaters and video on demand on March 15. Watch a trailer for “The Animal” Kingdom below.
