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Characters & Themes

Beast (2018) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2018 · 107 min · English
Echo score 78
JustWatch #2,803 14
Directed by
Michael Pearce
Starring
Jessie Buckley, Geraldine James, Johnny Flynn, Olwen Fouere, Emily Taaffe, Charley Palmer Merkell

On a secluded island, a young woman named Moll feels trapped by her family’s expectations. Her life changes when she encounters Pascal, a captivating stranger who awakens her and inspires a passionate desire for a fresh start. As they embark on a journey together, their relationship intensifies, but Pascal soon becomes the main suspect in a series of disturbing murders. Torn between her feelings and the danger he represents, Moll must decide whether to protect him or distance herself from the escalating threat.

On this page (8)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (3)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (3)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Movies like Beast
  8. 8 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Beast (2018)

Where can you watch Beast? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Amazon Prime Video, Lionsgate+ Amazon Channels and Hoopla: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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3 main characters · contains spoilers

Beast Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of Beast (2018), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Moll (Jessie Buckley)

    Moll is a complex protagonist struggling with familial expectations, trauma, and her evolving relationship with Pascal. Her character is marked by vulnerability, reflecting her inner turmoil as she navigates love intertwined with violence. Moll's journey is one of self-discovery, but also a descent into madness and despair.

    • 👩‍🎤 Protagonist
    • 🤔 Troubled
    • 🌪️ Emotional
  • Pascal (Johnny Flynn)

    Pascal is a charming yet conflicted character, embodying both allure and danger. His troubled past complicates his relationship with Moll, revealing layers of vulnerability and aggression. As events unfold, Pascal's actions blur the line between love and violence, making him a pivotal figure in Moll's tumultuous journey.

    • 🌊 Romantic Interest
    • 😔 Conflicted
    • 🔥 Dangerous
  • Clifford (Trystan Gravelle)

    Clifford serves as the local detective, embodying authority amidst chaos. He represents the voice of reason, warning Moll of the dangers around her while grappling with the dark realities of the ongoing investigation. His character highlights the moral complexities surrounding truth and justice within their community.

    • 👮‍♂️ Authority
    • 🌪️ Complex
    • 🚨 Protective

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 19:29

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Setting

Where and When Does Beast Take Place?

The setting of Beast (2018): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

The movie takes place in a contemporary setting, reflecting modern societal issues such as crime, family dynamics, and personal struggles. Moll's challenges and the violent incidents in the community resonate strongly with current themes of womanhood and violence.

Location

Jersey

Jersey is a picturesque Channel Island known for its stunning landscapes and rich history. The serene beaches contrast sharply with the dark events occurring within its tight-knit community, particularly the unsolved crimes that haunt the locals. This idyllic setting serves as a backdrop for Moll's tumultuous journey, highlighting the complexities of life amidst beauty.

  • 🏝️ Island
  • 🏡 Community
  • 🌊 Beach

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 19:29

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3 major themes

Beast Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is Beast (2018) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Love & Violence

    The interplay between love and violence is a central theme in the film. Moll's relationship with Pascal blurs the lines of affection and harm, culminating in a chilling scenario where love leads to brutality. This theme questions the nature of relationships and the complexity of human emotions.

  • Mental Turmoil

    Moll's journey is marked by significant mental strife, fueled by her troubled family dynamic and the pressure of societal expectations. Her descent into despair and violent actions reflect the struggle for identity in a chaotic environment, showcasing how trauma can distort love and reality.

  • Truth & Deception

    The pursuit of truth in a web of lies shapes the narrative, as Moll grapples with her painful past and her relationship with Pascal. Deception weaves through interactions, highlighting the impact of choices and the burden of secrets on personal relationships and community dynamics.

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 19:29

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Character & theme questions

Beast Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about Beast (2018): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where is Beast set?

The movie takes place on Jersey, a picturesque Channel Island between England and France. The serene beaches and stunning landscapes create a striking contrast with the dark events unfolding in this tight-knit island community.

  • jersey island
  • channel islands
  • setting
  • island setting
Q2

When does the movie take place?

Beast is set in contemporary times, reflecting modern societal issues including crime, family dynamics, and personal struggles. The story unfolds in the present day on the Channel Island of Jersey.

  • contemporary
  • modern setting
  • time period
  • present day
Q3

What is the love and violence theme in Beast?

The film explores how love and violence become intertwined, particularly through Moll's relationship with Pascal. Their connection blurs the lines between affection and harm, culminating in a chilling scenario where passion leads to brutality, questioning the nature of relationships and human emotions.

  • love and violence
  • theme
  • relationships
  • abuse
  • passion
Q4

What is the mental turmoil theme about?

Moll's journey is defined by significant mental strife, stemming from her troubled family dynamics and societal expectations. Her descent into despair and violent actions reflects the struggle for identity in a chaotic environment, showcasing how trauma can distort love and perception of reality.

  • mental health
  • trauma
  • mental turmoil
  • psychological
  • family dynamics
Q5

What does truth and deception explore in the movie?

The pursuit of truth amid deception shapes the narrative as Moll grapples with her painful past and relationship with Pascal. Deception weaves through interactions, highlighting how choices and secrets impact personal relationships and community dynamics.

  • truth
  • deception
  • secrets
  • lies
  • investigation
Q6

Who is Moll in Beast?

Moll is the film's complex protagonist, a young woman who feels trapped by her family's expectations. Her character is marked by vulnerability and inner turmoil as she navigates a relationship with Pascal that blurs the lines between love and danger. Her journey represents both self-discovery and a descent into madness.

  • moll
  • protagonist
  • main character
  • jessie buckley
Q7

Who is Pascal in Beast?

Pascal is a charming yet conflicted stranger who arrives on the island and captures Moll's attention. He embodies both allure and danger, with a troubled past that complicates his relationship with Moll. As the story progresses, Pascal becomes the prime suspect in a series of murders, blurring the line between love and violence.

  • pascal
  • johnny flynn
  • suspect
  • murderer
Q8

Who is Clifford in Beast?

Clifford is the local detective who represents authority amidst the chaos of the murders. He serves as the voice of reason, warning Moll about the dangers surrounding Pascal while grappling with the dark realities of the ongoing investigation. His character highlights the moral complexities of truth and justice within their community.

  • clifford
  • detective
  • police
  • trystan gravelle
  • investigation
Q9

What genre is the movie Beast?

Beast is a drama film from 2018 that blends psychological thriller elements with a serial killer plot. The film explores dark themes of love, violence, and mental instability within a small community setting.

  • drama
  • thriller
  • genre
  • psychological thriller
  • 2018 film
Q10

What does the ending of Beast mean?

The film concludes with a bleak ending where Moll commits a murder, suggesting she has fully embraced a dark nature rather than finding redemption or escape. The ending reflects the movie's themes of mental turmoil and the corrupting influence of passion, leaving a sense of moral ambiguity and darkness.

  • ending
  • conclusion
  • ending explained
  • spoiler
  • bleak

Movie threads

More Movies Like Beast, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Beast tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Movies with Dark Obsessive Romance like Beast

Passionate relationships become dangerous in isolated, pressure-cooker settings. If you liked the dangerous passion in Beast, explore more movies where a thrilling romance turns sinister. These films feature intense relationships, psychological manipulation, and a claustrophobic atmosphere that keeps the tension high until a shocking conclusion.

  • obsessive
  • claustrophobic
  • unsettling
  • romantic
  • desperation
  • psychological
  • Tone: dark, tense, psychologically unsettling
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven build
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative typically follows a protagonist, often isolated or disillusioned, who is swept into an all-consuming romantic relationship with a charismatic but potentially dangerous figure. As the outside world closes in with suspicion or threat, the line between love and survival blurs, leading to a morally complex and often bleak climax.

Why they belong together: They are grouped by their core theme of love as a destructive force, paired with a psychological thriller structure. The shared elements include high emotional intensity, a dark tone, oppressive settings, and a focus on the protagonist's internal conflict between desire and self-preservation.

Movies about Psychological Unraveling like Beast

A character's sanity fractures under the weight of small-town secrets and suspicion. Fans of Beast's portrayal of a mind breaking under pressure will find similar stories here. These movies follow characters trapped by family or community expectations, leading to a dark personal transformation amid secrets and violence.

  • psychological
  • oppressive
  • unsettling
  • desperation
  • dark
  • tense
  • Tone: dark, oppressive, bleak
  • Pacing: steady, building dread
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The pattern involves a protagonist feeling trapped by their environment—be it family, a small town, or an institution. An external catalyst, often a crime or a mysterious stranger, triggers a crisis that exposes the community's dark secrets and catalyzes the protagonist's own descent, culminating in an act that reveals their changed nature.

Why they belong together: They share a core focus on the psychological breakdown of a central character caused by an oppressive environment and a catalyzing event. The experience is defined by a steady pacing that builds dread, a heavy emotional weight, and a consistently dark, bleak tone.

If you liked this

Movies Like Beast

Similar movies to Beast: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

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Every angle

Beast (2018) Explained: Plot, Ending, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Beast in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning, the ending explained and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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