Beast movie 2022: release date UK, trailer, cast with Idris Elba, new film reviews - how long does it last?

Idris Elba stars in the film Beast which claws its way into UK cinemas in August 2022.

The American survival thriller which is directed by Baltasar Kormakur sees Elba take on a new enemy in the form of a ferocious and blood thirsty lion.

Previously, we have seen Elba take on super villains but what can we expect from the Beast movie and when will the survival thriller arrive in UK cinemas?

When will Beast be released in UK cinemas?

Beast will be released in UK cinemas on Friday 26 August 2022.

It was released in the United States a week earlier on Friday 19 August 2022.

Who is in the cast for Beast?

Idris Elba will star as Dr. Nate Samuels in the film Beast.

Elba is one of the most well known British actors and has played a lead role in a number of well known films such as Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, The Jungle Book, The Suicide Squad and recurring roles as Heimdall in the Thor and Avengers franchise.

During his career, Elba has been nominated for a golden globe award for best actor on four occasions, winning one. Elba was also awarded an OBE in the 2016 New Year Honours for his services to drama.

Ilyana Halley, who is best known for her role in TV shows East of La Brea and The Short Store-y. Halley will star as Meredith Samuels, the daughter of Dr. Nate.

Leah Sava Jeffries also features as Norah Samuels, the youngest daughter of Dr. Nate.

South African actor Shartlo Copley, best known for his roles in The-A-Team and Maleficent will play the role of a wildlife biologist named Martin Battles.

What is the Beast plot?

Recently widowed Dr. Nate Samuels and his daughters, Meredith and Norah arrive at a game reserve in South Africa for a holiday.

During the vacation Dr. Nate meets a close friend named Martin Battles who is also the site manager.

This South African vacation is important to Dr. Nate because  he is hoping the trip will help him rekindle a bond with his daughters, as he feels he has been distant from them in the past.

However, what begins as a peaceful vacation soon turns into an epic fight for survival, as they become the target for an aggressive lion, who begins to stalk the family.

How long does the Beast film last?

Beast has a run time of around 1 hour and 30 minutes.

What rating is the film Beast?

Beast is rated as a 15 in UK cinemas as it features scenes of violence and bloody images.

Beast film reviews

The survival thriller made its way to US cinemas on Friday 19 August 2022 and so far it has received mixed reviews.

On the well renowned review website Rotten Tomatoes it has received an average score of 66% based on the 129 reviews it has recieved.

One user of the site commented: “Whatever Beast lacks in surprises or characters making smart decisions in a terrible situation -- it more than makes up for with plenty of edge-of-your-seat action.”

Another well known review site IGN praised Elba’s performance as the protagonist but claimed it was too predictable to go down as a classic. Taylor Lyles of IGN said: “Beast is too predictable and simple to go down as a classic, or even a great entry in the genre. Nevertheless, if you’re an Idris Elba fanatic, it’s worth a watch at least once, if only for his commitment to the premise.”

The Guardian’s Benjamin Lee scored the film a three out of five stars. He praised Elba’s portrayal as the lead character stating that he was highly believables in a “hyper-competent, high-stakes survival mode.”

Lee described the film as “a thrilling, if throwaway, reminder of the fun to be had while watching a B-movie bringing its A-game.