Beast Beast (2021) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Beast Beast takes place in the sun-drenched suburbs of the Southern United States. The suburban setting serves as a crucial backdrop where teenage characters navigate adolescence, exploring creativity and personal aspirations in a warm, community-oriented environment.

• southern united states
• suburbs
• setting
• location

The movie is set in contemporary times, depicting modern high school life. The narrative reflects current challenges faced by today's youth, including themes of online fame, personal struggles, and the impacts of social media.

• contemporary
• modern
• time period
• high school

Beast Beast explores three central themes: artistic expression, particularly through theater as a form of self-discovery; grief and loss following traumatic violence; and the quest for online fame, which exposes the darker side of social media influence and its consequences.

• themes
• artistic expression
• grief
• online fame
• social media

The three main characters are Krista, a theater passionate high school student coping with grief through creativity; Nito, a charismatic skateboarder who forms a close bond with Krista; and Adam, a fellow student whose pursuit of online fame leads him down a dangerous path.

• krista
• nito
• adam
• characters
• main characters

Krista is a high school student with a passion for theater who uses artistic expression as an outlet to cope with personal tragedy. Her journey reflects resilience and demonstrates how creativity can help individuals navigate grief and hardship.

• krista
• theater
• artistic expression
• grief
• coping

Nito is an adventurous skateboarder known for his vibrant personality and courage. He forms a meaningful connection with Krista, sharing in their artistic pursuits, and his heroic instincts emerge during a chaotic party, ultimately leading to his tragic fate.

• nito
• skateboarder
• character
• vibrant personality

Adam is a high school student driven by a desperate need for validation and online fame. His character illustrates the dangerous consequences of seeking attention through social media, as his actions escalate into tragic violence that profoundly impacts everyone around him.

• adam
• online fame
• social media
• validation
• dangerous

Artistic expression serves as a central theme, primarily through Krista's involvement in her school's theater program. The film highlights creativity as a vital form of self-discovery and a healthy means to cope with personal tragedies and the challenges of adolescence.

• artistic expression
• theater
• creativity
• self-discovery

Grief and loss are explored through Krista's experience following the violent events involving Nito and her peers. The film showcases how trauma profoundly affects individuals and communities, depicting Krista's struggle to find healing and meaning amidst profound heartache.

• grief
• loss
• trauma
• healing
• krista

The movie examines the darker side of social media through Adam's quest for online fame. His journey highlights the complex relationship between fame and morality in the digital age, showing how the pursuit of viral attention can lead to devastating consequences.

• social media
• fame
• viral
• digital age
• consequences

The film begins with a lighter, slice-of-life tone focused on teenage creativity and connection. However, it shifts to a dark, heavy emotional register as violence erupts, exploring the aftermath of trauma, survivor's guilt, and the disturbing phenomenon of a perpetrator being celebrated online.

• tone
• emotional weight
• dark
• trauma
• intensity

The Southern suburban setting provides a seemingly peaceful backdrop that contrasts sharply with the violence that unfolds. This contrast emphasizes how tragedy can disrupt seemingly safe, close-knit communities, reinforcing the movie's exploration of how violence shatters youthful innocence.

• southern suburbs
• community
• peaceful
• contrast
• violence