Local director’s thriller named one of 2018’s top films

Sunday 24 June 2018

A Jersey director’s award-winning thriller, which was partly inspired by the Beast of Jersey, has been dubbed one of the best films of 2018 so far.

Since premiering at the Toronto Film Festival last year, Michael Pearce’s ‘Beast’ has received a string of rave reviews, being described as a “smartly layered thriller” and a “warped adult fairytale”.

But now it’s got even higher praise to add to the list. 

The tense yet aesthetically pleasing thriller was given a four-star rating by The Guardian, joining blockbuster Hollywood films Black Panther and Avengers: Infinity War on their ‘Best films of 2018 so far’ list.

Video: The official trailer for Michael Pearce's Beast.

Guardian film critic Peter Bradshaw called the film "exhilaratingly clever", noting how Pearce made the normally idyllic and friendly Jersey seem eerie and unsettling. 

The film tells the story of Moll (Jessie Buckley), a misfit stuck in a job as a bus tour guide. Beast follows her as she falls for Pascal (Johnny Flynn), a shadowy man with a criminal record, and wrestles with her emotions. Playing out in the background are a series of murders of young women, an atmosphere against which islanders are desperately struggling to continue as normal.

During the making of the film, Pearce was supported by ArtHouse Jersey, an trust that supports local artists in developing their creative ideas and projects. 

The organisation initially gave him a grant to pay for his attendance to Torino Film Lab, a place where first or second-time writers and directors are supported in areas like funding and distribution of their projects. They also accommodated cast and crew during the production of Beast, which was eventually given a warmly-received airing in Jersey in April.

Pictured: Moll, one of the film's protagonists, played by Jessie Buckley.

Commenting on the success Beast has received, organisation director Tom Dingle told Express: “It’s always gratifying to see someone’s commitment to work…it’s fantastic for us to see his work pay off.

“We knew [Beast] from when it was an acorn… It’s a good example of why we do what we do.”

Beast wasn’t just an overnight success. Dingle noted how it took eight years to create, saying Pearce isn’t “someone who just jumped through the industry”, as “it’s not an easy journey.” 

The thriller’s outside scenes were filmed in Jersey, showcasing the best of the West of the island. Dingle said: “The film’s backdrop set the island as somewhere that has huge amount of natural beauty.

“I think it’s a great advert for Jersey in terms of scenery and high quality works of art.”

Video: A pivotal moment in the film in which Moll confronts her family, solidifying her relationship with a man some believe to be a Beast...

ArtHouse Jersey want to safeguard the future of island creativity, and are looking to help foster even more local success stories. “Others who are working on their own projects should get in touch,” Dingle urged.