1 out of 5

Directed by: Brett Simmons

It’s a low-budget creature feature.  I shouldn’t expect much.  And there are aspects of ‘Animal’ that could’ve failed more – worse acting, a worse script – but it’s almost more noxious that these elements refuse to define themselves as good or bad that makes the film a particular snooze.  It’s mostly standard fare from start to finish: cold open of a group eye-of-the-hunter being chased in the woods; end with a character falling and getting dragged off-screen.  Cut to daytime, peaceful music, and a new group – hey, look, they skew younger than our previous group – driving, presumably, to the same woods.  Indeed, our group is planning a hiking excursion – with a brother and sister, their respective girlfriend and boyfriend, and a ‘fifth wheel’ friend along for the ride – trying to rekindle some childhood memories before the opportunity to do so is lost.  Some points to scripters Thommy Hutson and Catherine Trillo for not playing the teens too typically, with the relationships seeming primarily healthy and not over-sexed, and for attempting to trickle in some background for the brother and sister without spending too much time on it.  Director Simmons wastes the points, for the most part, by shooting everything with the most boring framing and pacing possible (with matching bland cinematography from Scott Winig) and seemingly not encouraging his actors to act together so much as emote the lines as they deem best.  Eventually we find our group trapped in a cabin, stalked by a boringly designed monster.  The practical suit is nice but it doesn’t do much, and any surprises are telegraphed far, far in advance.  It’s not an overtly bad movie, just visually uninspired, and doesn’t take any chances with the flashes of nuance in its script.