Ben Affleck’s Netflix kidnapping thriller *Animals*, in which he both directs and stars, draws largely negative reviews from outlets covering its release. Multiple critics describe the film as dull, listless, or tedious, with some noting it feels like generic crime material rather than distinctive Affleck work.
The story centers on Affleck’s character, Mark Kimball, an Los Angeles mayoral candidate, whose preteen son is kidnapped on Halloween. Reviews agree that the plot ties the kidnapping to the pressures of an election campaign and a strained family situation involving his wife, Kerry Washington. The New York Times and other outlets frame the film as a political dilemma, while Variety and The Guardian discuss how the film’s tone and pacing fail to hold attention.
While all sources align in their assessment of the film’s quality, they differ in emphasis: some focus on technical or stylistic shortcomings (visual flair, storytelling momentum), while others highlight the lack of a clear political platform or compelling character development. The consensus is that the direct-to-Netflix release does little to distinguish the film.
