Beastly
2011 · Directed by Daniel Barnz
Original language: English
- romance
- fantasy
- drama
The story
A modern-day take on the "Beauty and the Beast" tale where a New York teen is transformed into a hideous monster in order to find true love.
What it’s like
Bright, glossy Manhattan teen-movie polish: sunlit prep-school hallways, clean white apartments and warm lamplit interiors, with a soft pastel sheen that turns cool and gloomy once the curse takes hold. The camera stays mostly conventional and tidy, with plenty of shot-reverse-shot in classrooms and rooms that feel lived-in and a little too perfect, and the makeup-and-prosthetic transformation is the main visual event. The score is bouncy pop and sentimental piano, with the pop soundtrack carrying school-dance and montage moments. Its vibe is light, wistful and fairy-tale cute, a modern-day spin on a familiar story where a snobbish, image-obsessed teen learns to see past surfaces. Pacing is brisk and episodic, the tone earnest and sweetly romantic, and the central arc follows a cruel boy slowly softening through a tutoring relationship with an outsider. Intensity is low: some bullying, teasing and social cruelty, a brief mild kiss-driven romance, and no real violence, gore or fear beyond a few uncomfortable moments of rejection. It suits a lazy afternoon or a comfort rewatch for people who want a gentle, glossy fable with a warm heart.
More films like Beastly
Closest in mood, pacing and theme. Tell us why you loved Beastlyand we’ll explain which ones fit you.
