
Beasts of the Southern Wild
2012, Drama/Fantasy, 1h 33m
205 Reviews 25,000+ RatingsWhat to know
critics consensus
Beasts of the Southern Wild is a fantastical, emotionally powerful journey and a strong case of filmmaking that values imagination over money. Read critic reviews
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Movie Info
Cast & Crew
Hushpuppy
Wink
Jean Battiste
Walrus
Little Jo
Miss Bathsheeba
News & Interviews for Beasts of the Southern Wild
Critic Reviews for Beasts of the Southern Wild
All Critics (205) | Top Critics (66) | Fresh (177) | Rotten (28)
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The brilliant, original four-hankie dystopian family drama from New Orleans newcomer Benh Zeitlin far surpassed any expectations for a scruffy $1.5 million effort from an unknown film collective...
March 31, 2020 | Full Review… -
The movie's mad gusto is truly infectious.
February 22, 2019 | Full Review… -
It will not only stir your soul, but also open your mind to the possibility of a real-life Promised Land.
September 8, 2017 | Rating: A | Full Review… -
Beasts of the Southern Wild, a deliciously dreamy tale about a fictional Bayou community in the backwaters of Louisiana, does not so much jump off the screen as float effortlessly off it.
August 11, 2017 | Full Review… -
It's an amazing vision. A work of art.
November 14, 2016 | Rating: 4/4 | Full Review… -
What is also extraordinary is that almost all the people we see are actors. So this is not a documentary but a moving enactment by people who are themselves moved.
June 17, 2013 | Full Review…
Audience Reviews for Beasts of the Southern Wild
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Jun 24, 2013"Everything is part of the buffet of the universe." "Any day now, fabric of the universe is coming unraveled." "The whole universe depends on everything fitting together just right. If one piece busts, even the smallest piece, the entire universe will get busted." <i>"We are all little pieces of a big, big universe, and that makes things right."</i> North Louisiana is the wild environment engulfing the tender, little voice of an adventurous heart destined to be the King of Bathtub. No crying is allowed in a life of hostilities where strength can be found in our connection with the Universe. This is no Pantheist perspective; rather, Beasts triumphs where the adaptation of Terabithia falls shallow: family bonds, the importance of home and the appreciation of Nature being more important than imagination alone. How unfortunate that the secondary characters and the situations were not portrayed with the necessary depth, resulting in a running time shorter than required. These topics demand emotion and seriousness, not reflective suddenness. 75/100Edgar C Super Reviewer
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Jun 15, 2013Something very different. A real cinematic breath of fresh air.Marcus W Super Reviewer
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Mar 23, 2013Shame that I just watched it now. Both lead cast, Quvenzhane and Dwight Henry were amazing, loving the chemistry and the story is very beautiful.Cita W Super Reviewer
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Mar 18, 2013Of all the descriptions used for Beasts of the Southern Wild, the most common and true would be that of "poetry on screen". The film, from it's stylized elements including the script, acting, cinematography, and direction, feels like a poem. It has a narrative, to be sure, but an unconventional one, not concerned with story so much as message. At that same time, it stays anchored in a literal world. As such, it avoids the trap of being overly self indulgent and indie, while also being quite distinguished and uniquely realized. The acting is perhaps the most impressive thing about the film, with a powerhouse performance from the young Quvenzhane Wallis, who has an amazing screen presence and expressive posture that anchors the film throughout, with incredibly impacting scenes toward the third act. She is complimented well, though on a different, more grounded level, by the remaining cast, making for very interesting dynamics, especially with her father. The script is smart with its use of narration, sparse dialogue, and scene set up. It feels coherent but not contrived, poetic, but not lost in its own message. It is clear in what it wants to say, conveying feelings of mystery, love, and tragedy, and to excellent effect. Memorable, executed greatly, and visually stunning, it's one of 2012's more interesting films. 4/5 StarsJeffrey M Super Reviewer
Beasts of the Southern Wild Quotes
Hushpuppy: | I hate you! I hate you! And when you die Imma eat birthday cake on your grave! |
Hushpuppy: | I hate you! I hate you! And when you die I'm gonna eat birthday cake on your grave! |
Hushpuppy: | Everybody loses the thing that made them. The brave men stay and watch it happen. They don't run! |
Hushpuppy: | When an animal gets sick here, they plug it into the wall. |
Hushpuppy: | I'm recording my story for the scientists in the future. In a million years, when kids go to school, they gonna know: once there was a Hushpuppy, and she lived with her daddy in The Bathtub. |
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