Writer & Director
Bart Layton
(THE IMPOSTER)

Stars
Barry Keoghan, Evan Peters, Jared Abrahamson, Blake Jenner and Ann Dowd

What you can expect from AMERICAN ANIMALS is a heist film quite unlike any other. The object of the felon’s convictions is not your typical commodity to steal, the location this item is secured is not ordinarily subject to a robbery, and the presentation of this true story is a seamless blend of feature film and documentary.

Young aspiring artist Spencer (played by THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER star Barry Keoghan) observes that a few of the most successful and brilliant people in this world experienced some form of defining moments in their lives. Believing that this is what’s missing from his own existence, Spencer and his friend Warren (Evan Peters, who portrays Quicksilver in the latest X-MEN movies) plan to steal an extremely valuable edition of the book The Birds of America, as well as other rare books secured at the Transylvania University library. Soon after, the young men realise they’ll need more personnel to pull this audacious job off and enlist the help of fellow friends Eric (Jared Abrahamson) and Chas (Blake Jenner).


Inventive thinking and storytelling from writer & director Bart Layton has definitively made the most of this fascinating true story, its resources and its elusive truth. By incorporating real-life interview footage of the primary men involved in the heist throughout the movie, we are privy to additional and unprecedented access of particular details. The placement of these recorded discussions is as apt as the decision to include them into the film is and they also derive moments of levity by way of a number of contradictions that are revealed from the individual’s perspectives. Right from its pulsating opening sequence, which leads the four adolescents who are well-disguised as older men towards executing their plan, Bart Layton stamps himself as a filmmaker to watch. The first act takes us back some time to concentrate on their motivations and preparations, and exhibits a number of irregular but impressive movie making choices while doing so. The second act brings us back to the heist and summons genuine suspense at the brazen nature of its crime and the volatility of some of its characters. Though my description of this film might make it sound experimental in its production, it is not. This is a movie in an assured set of hands that knows what it aims to achieve, and how. In fact, AMERICAN ANIMALS isn’t just a perfectly balanced, well thought-out and cleverly executed film, it’s also a seriously entertaining one. Recommended viewing!

4 stars

Viewer Discretion
MA15+ (Strong coarse language)

Trailer
AMERICAN ANIMALS

Moviedoc thanks Madman for the opportunity to watch and review this film

Review by Leigh for Moviedoc
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