The Beast

A compelling study of the human mind, The Beast is an Italian crime thriller directed by Ludovico Di Martino that was released in 2020. The film features a palette of impressive performances with Fabrizio Gifuni, Lino Musella, and Monica Piseddu in the lead roles. The Beast invites you into a tense world where loss, revenge, and the incapacity to cope with personal trauma find expression in brutal, uncompromising violence.

At the center of the film is Leonida Riva, powerfully portrayed by Fabrizio Gifuni, a hardened, to the point of being emotionally cauterized, ex military officer hounded by personal demons and trying to grapple with the aftermath of his life on the battlefield. Riva battles a painful past that is marked by war experiences, while also grappling with his current role as a detached, solitary figure whose life is filled with estranged relationships and painful memories. His unyielding facade masks a substantial amount of emotional turmoil.

Contrasting Riva’s turbulent interiority is Lino Musella as Turatello. Turatello is a criminal lord whose deeds not only reveal the darker layers of the criminal underworld, but also bring out the latent savagery that Riva battles every day. Their interactions form the crux of the narrative, constantly pushing and pulling the viewer into exploring the shades of grey that shroud good and evil.

Monica Piseddu as Riva's ex-wife Maria grittily depicts her struggles with Riva's estrangement, his emotional unavailability, and the burden of raising their two children single-handedly. The daily landmark of her life is battling loneliness while caring for a teenage daughter and a special needs son, giving the audience glimpses into the tormented war veteran's strained familial ties.

The plot centers on an unexpected incident that sets a series of events into motion and results in Riva's deep-seated feelings of rage and helplessness to surface, giving way to a raw and brutal path of revenge and salvation. Harrowing flashbacks illustrate his journey and give a stark reminder of the emotional scars borne by veterans of war.

Ludovico Di Martino's confident direction propels the narrative while ensuring that the mental distress of the central character doesn't get lost in the mix of blood and action sequences. The well-constructed plot never deviates from highlighting the human elements in the story and remains careful not to glorify the violence shown on screen. Instead, the violence is a profound manifestation of the emotional turmoil within Riva.

The Beast is a deeply unsettling film, magnified by a skilful mise-en-scene and shot through the lens of a bleak color palette that mirrors Riva’s traumatized state of mind and his dark journey. The gritty cinematography superbly frames volatile Turin suburbs in winter, adding to the overall sense of dread and tension that continually escalifies throughout the film.

Fabrizio Gifuni delivers a stellar performance as the emotionally scarred soldier, adding depth to a character crafted with intense complexity. His nuanced portrayal of post-traumatic stress disorder brings out compelling layers to Riva's broken psyche, making him as formidable as his enemies amidst the chaos. Supporting cast, including Lino Musella's menacing portrayal of Turatello and Monica Piseddu's affecting display of vulnerability, provide excellent support and match up to Gifuni's intense screen presence.

While The Beast can be characterized as a violent thriller, its heart lies in the exploration of the human psyche and the examination of the destructive effects of war on an individual. The film does a remarkable job of capturing the darkest edges of human soul and the frightening reality of what a person can become when pushed to the edge. The Beast, in its essence, is a raw, corrosive examination of the intersections between violence, trauma and redemption.