Beasts of the Southern WildMovie Reviews

Poster art for "Beasts of the Southern Wild."

Review This Movie

Go Based on 2,679 reviews
Breakdown:

Sort by: Helpfulness
Review Date

So-so
Written August 5, 2012
Moments of Beauty and Brilliance

by paulisakson

Overall, "Beasts of The Southern Wild" s a good movie. Not great, but good. If you've got a good home theater set-up, you can easily wait for it to come out on Blu-Ray/DVD/Streaming. There's nothing here that will be that much better in a theater than on a good sized LCD/LED screen.

It certainly isn't for everyone. It's slow to the point that it felt like an hour and a half should have passed before it was over. But it is touching and the girl playing "Hushpuppy" does a fantastic job. Also, there are some scenes that are stunningly beautiful (aesthetically) and I did really enjoy the score and music featured in the film.
- 8 out of 11 found this review helpful.
- Was this helpful to you?
- Yes
- No
Must Go!
Written July 24, 2012
Beasts of the Southern Wild

by kentridge

I felt this movie was like a magical short story - it drifted along amidst laughter, tears, storms and dreams changing our perceptions of reality and forcing us to dismantle any judgements we may have had about people and how they choose to live - on the grid - off the grid - in a dream or in the real world. Go see the film!
- 16 out of 27 found this review helpful.
- Was this helpful to you?
- Yes
- No
Oh No!
Written July 28, 2012
What were they thinking?

by Chuck1107

Rated as a "must see" by some movie critics, my wife and I felt this was a waste of time and money. No broad appeal, no message that you could carry home - a colonoscopy would have been more fun.
- 15 out of 25 found this review helpful.
- Was this helpful to you?
- Yes
- No
No
Written August 11, 2012
This one left me behind

by djpasullivan

A 6 year old tries to fend for herself in a community of alcoholics living in remote coastal Louisiana.
Interesting photography, stark, disturbing scenery, a wonderful child actor, but the story left me way behind.

Not entertaining. Maybe informative, maybe wrenching, maybe "good for you," but not entertaining.
- 9 out of 13 found this review helpful.
- Was this helpful to you?
- Yes
- No
Must Go!
Written July 16, 2012
Beast of the Southern Wild

by RBryan1011

A pretty phenomenal story and bit of story telling. It is amazing that the two main characters were new actors/actresses since they played great roles and the need to develop more independent films similar to this. In this age of pure garbage from an entertainment perspective or minimal creativity and imagination it is great to see that there are still some master story tellers and creative people out there making great movies. All kudos has to go to the director and producer of this movie for taking such a bold step in the release of a great movie focusing on such an area with unlimited cultural richness.

This is a movie that will not be watched by most Americans that do not want to explore new adventures and love to keep their heads in the sand of comfortability without challenging themselves. For those limited in imagination and creativity...Stay comfortable and boring my friends!!! For those that want to see, taste and smell everything life has to offer keep making new movies.
- 36 out of 67 found this review helpful.
- Was this helpful to you?
- Yes
- No
So-so
Written August 12, 2012
Nothing special

by WannaTicket

The young actress was endearing but not exceptional and since she was the main attraction for most viewers, I wouldn't go overboard w/ any great praise for the movie. Her lines were actually minimal.

I found the story grim.
- 7 out of 9 found this review helpful.
- Was this helpful to you?
- Yes
- No
Must Go!
Written August 26, 2012
Understanding Beasts of the Southern Wild

by RNJackie

When I first saw this movie I had very little information about the story behind it. I highly recommend reading the story or reviewing a critical analysis before going.
"Beasts of the Southern Wild" is a powerful story of how a child interprets the world and her part in it in a setting which is primitive, isolated and unimaginable by any who lives beyond the levee. This film reminded me of another favorite film, "Pan's Labyrinth."
- 6 out of 7 found this review helpful.
- Was this helpful to you?
- Yes
- No
Must Go!
Written July 7, 2012
young special

by godstevies

Hush Puppy is the new girl champion of the silver screen. What a powerfully adorable performance. This is love on the highest level of strength.
- 5 out of 6 found this review helpful.
- Was this helpful to you?
- Yes
- No
Must Go!
Written August 6, 2012
See It!

by jjpoutwest

One of the best of the year so far. If you go in with an open mind and free of preconcieved notions about what the movie will give you, it will get into your soul and stays with you for a long time. Do I ever think back on Avengers, Spiderman, or The Dark Knight Rises? Not really. See this one!!
- 6 out of 8 found this review helpful.
- Was this helpful to you?
- Yes
- No
So-so
Written July 10, 2012
Can be depressing

by JimJabu

A small girl tries to make sense of her world, a poverty stricken island off the coast of Louisiana, when she must deal with disaster, sickness, ignorance, squalor and despair. The performances are terrific and the photography is marvelous, but the story itself can be depressing.
- 12 out of 20 found this review helpful.
- Was this helpful to you?
- Yes
- No
Oh No!
Written August 13, 2012
Beasts of the Southern Wild

by Phyllis Freeman

First, the trailer is deceptive. The trailer makes it look like it is a "feel good, inspirational" movie for kids. Wrong. It is a gritty reality movie about people who are very poor alcoholics living in squalor in the swamps of Louisiana pre and post Katrina.
Second, why is it that movies have million dollar budgets but can't afford a tripod? I would have loved to actually have been able to watch the movie, which did have amazing visual footage, but I spent most of my time with my eyes closed, battling being queasy. The film was done with 80% closeup shots that imitated what one would see if they were watching footage of a kid's birthday party if it was shot with a hand held camera by a drunken relative going through detox. What possible reason did the director have for making the film unwatchable. I even moved to the very back row of the theater to minimize the bouncy camera action. Even my teenage children complained that it was difficult to watch.
- 10 out of 16 found this review helpful.
- Was this helpful to you?
- Yes
- No
Must Go!
Written August 17, 2012
A Realistic Account of Something Many of Us Don't want to See

by Givenchy28

Wow...first and foremost I don't know where the main character Hush Puppy (Quvenzhane) got her acting skills, but SHE IS AMAZING...My best advice is open up your mind and don't go see the movie expecting to "feel better about myself because other people have it so bad" The best parts are realizing how there is joy in situations that don't seem like they should be joyful, and the realization that home is truly where your heart is. While slow moving at parts, stick with it and you will be rewarded in the end.
- 5 out of 6 found this review helpful.
- Was this helpful to you?
- Yes
- No
Must Go!
Written September 3, 2012
Must go! Must see!

by dstdiva

Can't remember the last time I saw a film that I enjoyed so much! The characters are downtrodden Louisiana water dwellers, but they are fiercely independent and wouldn't change their lives for anything. The "star" of this movie is the little girl/narrator, Hushpuppy. You will LOVE her! I can't say enough good things about this movie. The themes are so much bigger than the movie itself. Go see it!
- 5 out of 6 found this review helpful.
- Was this helpful to you?
- Yes
- No
Must Go!
Written August 14, 2012
Amazing

by

The entire film is mesmerizing. Cast is superb. This movie has kept me thinking and reflecting for the past two days. Original and poetic. True art. Well done.
- 4 out of 4 found this review helpful.
- Was this helpful to you?
- Yes
- No
Go
Written July 19, 2012
Beasts beautiful

by everyweek60706

This is one of those movies you want to see a second time because the first time you're on the edge of your seat wondering where this is all going. It's not unlike Winter's Bone in it's depiction of poverty and the isolation it brings. Social workers, anthropologists, and medical practioners should see this film. It's rated PG-13, but I don't think you'd want to take your kids unless you're trying to scare them. The squirels scene in Winter's Bone was tame in comparison. The music and score will stick with you too.
- 12 out of 20 found this review helpful.
- Was this helpful to you?
- Yes
- No

Back
Page: 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
More Reviews

Beasts of the Southern Wild Movie Reviews + Ratings

Fans say

2,679 fan reviews

Critics say

Must Go! See all critic reviews

What do you say?

I'm In I'll Pass Seen it? Rate

What do you say?

Oh No! No So-so Go Must Go!

Tweets About Beasts of the Southern Wild

98% positive

Join the conversation

kentandreasen Beasts of the southern wild was depressing at two in the morning . And all the hand held shots made me feel like I was at sea.

9 hours ago.

luvjoysie Just watched Argo. I am ashamed of bad mouthing it during the Oscars for beating Beasts of the Southern Wild. Ben Affleck was flawless.

9 hours ago.

john_plemmons Just watched Beasts of the Southern Wild, Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, Moonrise Kingdom, & Carnage & theyre all great films #MajorCinephile

10 hours ago.