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Film reviews

Too Many Beasts Review-Fantastic Fest 2026

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Too Many Beasts earned a lot of attention at the Cannes Film Festival this year. It was even selected to be in the Directors Fortnight selection of the festival. This French film directed by Sarah Arnold is a dark comedy where the forest of northeastern France contains many elements of surprise. Too Many Beasts is the type of title that fits with Fantastic Fest. Corruption and animal chaos is what makes the film “fantastic” in a unique way.

 

There is a form of humility here that gets ravaged with revenge.  Too Many Beasts closes in on that theme, but in a way where seriousness and dark comedy combine with one another. It has French citizens, crimes with killing wild boars, and an angry officer trying to keep himself together. Conflicts spiral to brilliant heights in Too Many Beasts.

 

The film’s main character is Fulda, played by Alexis Manenti. He is an officer that has been demoted for a variety of reasons. His partner is Victor, played by Vincent Dedienne. They both work together to solve cases. For Fulda though, he is required to check in with a station psychologist named Stephane, played by Ella Rumpf. This requirement comes from his past behaviors while on the police force. The issue at hand is that there arebankrupt farmers and wild boars getting killed. Also, rights with licensing over lands come into play. All of this combines tocreate an uncharted territory of many unhappy folks. Fulda is the one trying to piece together the crimes while also navigating his own personal conflicts. Soon though, the issues begin to spiral out of control.

 

The one man that the town keeps on blaming for everything is Raoul Brun, played by Jean-Louis Coulloc’h. He has done things to hurt people or their property in the past, however, there are other binds associated. These are primarily among those who are hunting throughout the region. The film is a cat-and-mouse game with the police force, hunters, and wild boars. It is insane,vivid, and dark in a funny context. So much goes on that audiences will feel their head spin. The direction of the film has a context for its audience to not know what to believe—this blurred angle of writing is highly entertaining. From twists and turns to dead animals, there are new revelations around every corner in Too Many Beasts.

 

Even in the film, a character does say, “The problem is there are too many beasts!” That saying portrays a deeper meaning, because throughout the film the wild boars are not the only “beasts” in the town.  The ruthlessness is endless, especially with Fulda losing his mind and seeking redemption as an officer. To get the answers he wants, he has to dive deeper no matter what the cost. Three-and-a-half out of four stars for Too Many Beasts. A Fantastic Fest sensation.

 

Film reviews

Tenzing Review

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Written by Luke Davies and directed by Jennifer Peedom, this is a film where the summit of Mount Everest has a surreal presence. Genden Phuntsok plays Tenzing Norgay, Willem Dafoe plays Colonel Hunt, and Tom Hiddleston plays Edmund Hillary in this adventure tale of those who want to climb Mount Everest come to life. Tenzing showcases the world’s most breathtaking cinematography and mountain views I have ever seen. The concept of accomplishments flow with many spellbinding effects. A portrayal of an era where the precautions are limited creates an atmosphere that reminds its audience to never give up. 

 

Tenzing has earned a lot of praise and rewarding achievements in many film festivals this year. It was featured in the 53rdTelluride Film Festival, the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), The 22nd Zurich Film Festival, and is coming up in the 2026 Nashville Film Festival. With its many festival appearances in the month of September, Tenzing is bound to find its spot in award season categories. The era of sacrifice and accomplishments has a heartfelt meaning. It dazzles with mountain scenery and wonderous shots of Mt. Everest. There is also the depictions of courage with others. Deep down though, Tenzing just reminds its audience that anything is possible when one puts their minds to a task. 

 

Tenzing is the hero of the film with the plot revolving mainly around him. The story of the 1953 mission to embark on the British Everest Expedition shines. Tenzing teams up with Colonel Hunt and Edmund Hillary. There are others as well, but all three of them are the heroes behind the mountain expedition.Their dynamic trio is where Tenzing is a masterpiece on a surreal level. Climbing mountains is not easy—but Tenzing is the one that delivers much of the hope for the world around him.

 

What I admire most about Tenzing is how it captures his younger days in the village and then jumps back to his Everest adventure. The reminder that he started in this one place brings a lot of positive emotions and the thought that every hero has a story. Tenzing’s is brutal and persistent one. The smile on his face is his trademark for the world. The accomplishments of his life and mountain expeditions will live for generations. Tenzing is also an influence—he encourages his teammates to not quit abandonplans as the continuation of the climb gets steeper. There are moments where parts of the mountain can break—the message to keep going continues to glow in Tenzing.

 

The most essential aspect though, is how it brings in the moments of global warming impacting the climb. There are moments where the team finds themselves trying to think of new plans, move things around, or even give up. Tenzing is not about giving up, but he is also about safety. The writing of the film is created to have a literal landscape containing paths with thoughts of quitting, but also ones leading to encouragement to climb to the top. Once they accomplish that, they will remember their achievement forever.

 

Astonishing in the storyline, the photography, and the continuity. This is an experience that feels like a National Geographic sensation. One of the best films from the mind of Jennifer Peedom. Her epic filmmaking here will captivate audiences around the world with Tenzing. Four out of four stars for Tenzing.

 

Film reviews

Primetime Review

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Written by Ajon Singh, based on the article by Luke Dittrich, and directed by Lance Oppenheim, this is Primetime. The film is based on events that occurred in 2006 with Chris Hansen, who did what he could to make television history with To Catch a Predator. The story begins with lots of surveillance, and then lots of revelations. Primetime is a magnificent and daring rollercoaster ride. Robert Pattinson plays Chris Hansen, and he is spectacular. The moving parts in his performance explore the tension between reality and career choices. His character blurs the lines creating a world of unexpected possibilities. Primetime brought me back to the era of TV shows when most people tuned into programming like Lost and Grey’s Anatomy at night. 

In Primetime, Chris Hansen finds himself in a position to be on top with his TV series To Catch a Predator. This show involves a sting operation where he lures grown-ups who chat with minors online and then busts them. His tactics generate all kinds of buzz—some good and some bad. What it comes down to is trying to keep up with the popularity of Lost. The competition element leads to a bumpy ride for Primetime because every move poses a risk. There are risks for the show as well as for Chris given the choices he makes. An assistant named Andie Bender (Merritt Wever) goes out of her way to skyrocket the budget. This leads to Chris having to hire an actor to pose for the show. That character is Dan Plumb (Skyler Gisondo). Chris calls him “Decoy Dan” because of how he is the first person in a shot before Chris comes in. 

To provide some context to the show’s format, Chris and his team find predators, give them an address, and then the camera crew waits…from there Chris takes the show over. He exposes his victims, tells them what they did wrong, and televises it. The pursuit of finding people who make bad choices is written in a vivid and enticing way. Pattinson displays an egotistical manner in his performance. His character is hungry for the views needed to keep his fame afloat, but he has some personal issues as well.

As part of the NBC network (he was a correspondent for Dateline NBC), Chris’ personal issues have an impact on him. While he is playing someone trying to catch bad guys to gain popularity, his own choices catch up with him. There are moments in which infidelity, lies, and deceit come into play in his own life. These behaviors could ruin his career. So, while he is doing all he can to market To Catch a Predator, the pressure is intense. Chris is put in a mind-boggling position where he must be willing to risk his career or his team. Pattinson is outstanding playing the monster of success. Many pressures are thrown his way, and turn into a scattered puzzle that makes viewers want more. What spoke to me was how his problems kept growing. It felt like a boiling pot that made me ache for more to be enthralled by. Oppenheim knows how to harness the unique tones of the era in Primetime.

There is a scene when Chris says, “The whale is coming,”  This comment causes viewers to ponder the amount of power of a TV network. In pursuit of fame, there are always unforeseen consequences. Given the shady subject matter of Chris’ show, not everyone in this era was a fan. In the end, Pattinson’s portrayal of Hansen in an industry-driven true story is unforgettable. Four out of four stars for Primetime.