Flying a bit under the radar for Netflix is Ben Affleck’s Animals, which he directs, stars in, and co-writes. The kidnapping thriller follows a mayoral candidate and his wife, played by Kerry Washington, whose lives unravel following the kidnapping of their son.
The film is Affleck’s follow-up to 2023’s critically acclaimed Air. Affleck’s character, Mark Kimball, finds that the carefully crafted life he projects for the public is being torn apart as private secrets emerge. These secrets threaten not only his political aspirations but also his family.
It’s an intriguing premise, one that Affleck previously meant to explore with his pal Matt Damon in the lead role, and his ex-wife Jennifer Garner in the female lead. That would’ve been interesting, but ultimately both dropped out due to prior commitments.
Joining Affleck and Washington in the cast are Steven Yeun, Adriana Paz, Gillian Anderson, Luis Gerardo Méndez, Ray Fisher, Christopher Woodley, Matt Gerald, and Jacob Estrada.
Animals hits select theaters and Netflix on October 9th.
