Among the Beasts Review: Tory Kittles Elevates Action Thriller

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A guilty war veteran struggling with PTSD allies with a drug dealer's daughter to find kidnapped girls. Among the Beasts wavers between serious character drama , rote action thriller, and a somewhat obvious mystery. Star Torry Kittles elevates the script with a hard-hitting performance. He packs gravitas and wicked punches as a man overcome by failures. The protagonist's deadly serious countenance adds critical weight. Among the Beasts suffers from a cinematographic imbalance. Multiple scenes are too dark and hazy. The pieces don't come together smoothly, but Kittles certainly keeps you engaged.

Paul (Kittles), known as LT because of his Marines service, sits with twelve-year-old Kayla (Mia Mei Williamson) at the veterinarian. She's worried her beloved dog is sick. Kayla's father, Bobby, was killed in action under his command. LT has sworn to care for her and Bobby's family. LT decompresses by sparring with the men in his old unit. The veterans band together to overcome the horrors they experienced.

Kayla's Missing

LT races to the police station to meet Kayla's mother and aunt. Her purse was found on the street in front of a local bar. The police think she may have run away. LT promises he will find her. A year later, Kayla is still missing. LT has descended into alcoholism and drug abuse. He's lost the will to live.

LT gets a visit from Lola (Libe Barer) and her bodyguard (Sarunas J. Jackson). Lola is the daughter of an imprisoned drug lord. Her thirteen-year-old cousin was recently snatched. Lola needs to find her without the police. LT comes out of his stupor with Lola's new clues. Could Kayla's disappearance be connected? He resolves to find the culprit at all costs. They uncover a conspiracy with a startling connection.

A Broken Man

Among the Beasts dramatically shifts tone between acts. The beginning focuses on LT's efforts to do right. He's haunted by Bobby's death. LT leads his men on the battlefield and the home front. They peel him off the floor as he succumbs to inner demons. His inability to find Kayla has left him a broken man. He's let down a beloved comrade twice. LT's life no longer has purpose. Kittles sells the despair and frustration.

Related: Among the Beasts Clip Gives Sneak Peek of Tory Kittles Investigating the Disappearance of His Niece

Lola's introduction turns the film into a version of Taken . Good character development is replaced by procedural action. The partners run into the usual slew of goons and nitwits before finding their target. Who learns that LT means business and will inflict brutal punishment to get answers. You didn't have to be Sherlock Holmes to catch this baddie. Actor turned director/writer Matthew Newton ( Underbelly , From Nowhere ) needed to beef up the material. It was fairly easy to guess the mastermind behind the curtain. That said, the ending isn't predictable. But the breadcrumbs to get there aren't difficult to find.

Coming Out of Darkness

Among the Beasts has LT coming out of darkness. This thematic progression stumbles. Parts of the film are poorly lit and lack definition. This would normally be a fatal blow. Kittles strong performance holds your interest to an unexpected conclusion. I'm on board for further missions with LT.

Among the Beasts is a production of Cubby House Pictures and Cavalry Independent. It will have a VOD and limited theatrical release from Gravitas Ventures on February 10th.

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movie review among the beasts

Review: ‘Among The Beasts’ Tory Kittles Impresses In Matthew Newton's Latest Action Thriller

movie review among the beasts

Paul Jameson (Tory Kittles), or LT as everyone calls him, is a former US Marine in Among The Beasts . LT lives in New York and is trying every day to keep a promise he made to one of his fallen brothers, Bobby. That promise was to look after Bobby’s daughters, especially his youngest Kayla (Mia Mei Williamson). A promise that LT has no intention of breaking, until one day when Kayla is kidnapped. LT once again makes another promise, this time to Kayla’s older sister, that he is going to bring her home.

movie review among the beasts

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Where to watch

Among the beasts.

Directed by Matthew Newton

When a gangster’s daughter reluctantly teams with a former Marine to find her kidnapped cousin, the combat veteran must overcome his own demons in order to rescue the child.

Tory Kittles Libe Barer Sarunas J. Jackson Kate Easton Jeremy Holm Mark Mitton Jon Bass Jim Norton

Director Director

Matthew Newton

Writer Writer

Stunts stunts.

Jeff Imada Lauren Mary Kim

Menagerie Films Cavalry Independent Cubby House Pictures

Alternative Title

Thriller Mystery Action

Releases by Date

  • Theatrical limited

10 Feb 2023

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Popular reviews

Karl

Review by Karl ★★★ 4

Almost always down for a save-the-children from sex-traffickers flick. What's more satisfying than seeing these mofos go down? The action is hindered by a low budget. It's the performance from Tory Kittles that makes this worth watching. He had me locked in with his go-for-broke performance during the first half hour. There's a scene where he's snorting rails and drinking straight from the bottle that made me wonder if this was more of a downer character study. "One Year Later" appears on the screen and it becomes the expected routine grade-B crime flick. Setting it apart is an interesting neo-noir vibe that kept me watching. The location shooting in Queens (my home) was a bonus.

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Review by trublu215 ★★½

If only this had a bigger budget and more competent actors besides Tory Kittles, this would have been a cult classic. As it stands, the low budget and shaky (at best) technical work hampers the films ability to be something memorable and exciting. Tory Kittles does his absolute best to carry this film but it leaves much to be desired in almost every department. For Kittles, I give an extra half star.

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Review by Samuel Cisneros ★★★

There seems to be a lot of hate for this film but I found it to be serviceable and, at times, gripping. It feels low budget but they keep the atmosphere at a good level so you can get immersed in this world. It’s worth a look.

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Review by Frederick Arrowsmith ★★½

(Pros) A surprisingly decent scene from comedian Jim Norton as a NY cop / The almost comical dry cleaners scene / The Get Carter line / It has a weird atmosphere to it / (Cons) It's left with an open ending / (Who stole the movie ?) Tory Kittles

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Review by Tampacrow ★★★★

Surprisingly great. Good performances across the board and genuine tension in the climax. I hope it gets a sequel.

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It’s one of those surprisingly pretty great indies. It has a great hook and the rest might not be as strong but it certainly is a good one.

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WTOP News

Actor Tory Kittles, director Matthew Newton break down new thriller ‘Among the Beasts’

Jason Fraley | [email protected]

February 10, 2023, 1:40 AM

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Hear our full conversation on my podcast “Beyond the Fame.”

Tory Kittles is known as Laroy Wayne in “Sons of Anarchy” (2008-2011), Detective Thomas Papania in “True Detective” (2013), Frederick Douglass in “Harriet” (2019) and currently across Queen Latifah in the CBS crime drama “The Equalizer” (2021-present).

On Friday, his new film, “Among the Beasts,” hits select theaters and Video on Demand.

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The action thriller follows a former Marine, L.T., who reluctantly teams with a gangster’s daughter to find her kidnapped cousin, overcoming his own demons as a combat veteran.

“It’s a story of a flawed hero, a former Marine dealing with PTSD,” Kittles told WTOP. “I love the flawed hero. I feel like we are all the flawed heroes of our own stories. I’m also from a military family. My mother was a captain in the military, both of my grandfathers served in wars, so any time a military character comes my way, I give it extra reverence.”

It’s a character like Liam Neeson in “Taken” (2008) or Hugh Jackman in “Prisoners” (2013).

“The fact that we got to explore what it would be like to go looking for a loved one that’s gone missing, what you’d have to do to even get a lead on where they might be, what lines would you cross and what would you do if you came face to face with the people that took them?” Kittles said. “How does that change you? Where does your moral compass go?”

Playing the gangster’s daughter Lola is talented rising star Libe Barer.

“There was a determination, an intelligence, a ferocity inside this very kind, quiet person,” Director Matthew Newton told WTOP. “There was an internal strength that I thought would be great to discover as the movie goes on. She doesn’t walk on screen and you go, ‘Oh, wow, this is a badass.’ … By the end of the film, we discover what that internal strength is.”

Newton previously won the Audience Award at the South By Southwest Film Fest for “From Nowhere” (2016) and directed Julianne Nicholson in “Who We Are Now” (2017).

“When I made ‘From Nowhere’ about three undocumented kids in the Bronx trying to stay in the country and finish high school at the height of 2015, when all those issues came to the forefront, I discovered that if I grounded the story in an issue that meant something to me and made my heart tick, it just made the storytelling a lot more potent,” Newton said.

The slow-burn thriller evolves from an abduction mystery to an action-packed climax, brilliantly using parallel action cutting between two locations for maximum suspense.

“Time is what we use in film, that is our clay,” Newton said, “Having that is a great practical thing, but given the situation that they’re in, there are two enemies. There’s the actual enemy they have to face and there’s also the enemy of making sure that the people they’re trying to save are still alive and well, so they’re fighting both enemies simultaneously.”

movie review among the beasts

Hailed by The Washington Post for “his savantlike ability to name every Best Picture winner in history," Jason Fraley began at WTOP as Morning Drive Writer in 2008, film critic in 2011 and Entertainment Editor in 2014, providing daily arts coverage on-air and online.

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Among The Beasts. Enlisted to help find a kidnapped child,a former Marine Lieutenant must overcome his own demons to try and save the child. Tory Kittles, Libe Barer.

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COMMENTS

  1. Among the Beasts

    Feb 24, 2023 Full Review Julian Roman MovieWeb Among the Beasts wavers between serious character drama, rote action thriller, and a somewhat obvious mystery. Torry Kittles elevates the script with ...

  2. Among the Beasts (2023)

    Among the Beasts: Directed by Matthew Newton. With Tory Kittles, Libe Barer, Sarunas J. Jackson, Jon Bass. When a gangster's daughter reluctantly teams with a former Marine to find her kidnapped cousin, the combat veteran must overcome his own demons in order to rescue the child.

  3. Among the Beasts Review: Tory Kittles Elevates Action Thriller

    Among the Beasts is a production of Cubby House Pictures and Cavalry Independent. It will have a VOD and limited theatrical release from Gravitas Ventures on February 10th. Movie and TV Reviews

  4. Among the Beasts

    Among the Beasts is a satisfying thriller which manages to do something a little differently than most in its genre. Full Review | Feb 24, 2023. Among the Beasts wavers between serious character ...

  5. 'Among the Beasts' Flirts with First-Class Excitement

    Instead, "Among the Beasts" takes a few uncertain detours en route to a head-scratching finale. Among The Beasts - Official Trailer. Tory Kittles plays LT, a military veteran who oversees a boxing gym. He's tight with his old friend's daughter, Kayla (Mia Mei Williamson), and their one extended scene together speaks volumes.

  6. Among the Beasts (2023)

    sixxcrow-44799 13 February 2023. Jim Norton's appearance in this film was a breath of fresh air, comical and funny. This should lead to bigger and greater roles. An improve machine. With luck one of his many characters, like Chip Chipperson, Doug Bell,Cregg Schinkel, Edgar Melloncamp,Kirk Cinnamon or Ted Scheckler.

  7. Everything You Need to Know About Among The Beasts Movie (2023)

    Get Showtimes Buy Tickets . Among The Beasts was a Limited release in 2023 on Friday, February 10, 2023.There were 15 other movies released on the same date, including Titanic - 25 Year Anniversary, Magic Mike's Last Dance and Disquiet. As a Limited release, Among The Beasts will only be shown in select movie theaters across major markets.

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    All Reviews Editor's Choice Game Reviews Movie Reviews TV Show Reviews Tech Reviews. Discover. Videos. ... Among the Beasts News. Latest. Videos. Trailers. 1:25. Jan 18, 2023. Jan 18, 2023.

  9. Review: 'Among The Beasts'

    The film has a relatively short runtime and manages to keep the audience engaged throughout. Kittles succeeds in making you care about LT and what he is going through. Even with his demons, he is a likable character that is easy to root for. Among The Beasts is worth a watch and there is enough there to make me want to see LT on the screen again.

  10. Among the Beasts

    When a gangster's daughter reluctantly teams with a former Marine to find her kidnapped cousin, the combat veteran must overcome his own demons in order to r...

  11. ‎Among the Beasts (2023) directed by Matthew Newton • Reviews, film

    Review by trublu215 ★★½. If only this had a bigger budget and more competent actors besides Tory Kittles, this would have been a cult classic. As it stands, the low budget and shaky (at best) technical work hampers the films ability to be something memorable and exciting. Tory Kittles does his absolute best to carry this film but it leaves ...

  12. Actor Tory Kittles, director Matthew Newton break down new thriller

    WTOP's Jason Fraley covers 'Among the Beasts' (Part 1) Tory Kittles is known as Laroy Wayne in "Sons of Anarchy" (2008-2011), Detective Thomas Papania in "True Detective" (2013), Frederick ...

  13. Among The Beasts

    2023. 1 hr 40 mins. NR. Watchlist. Where to Watch. Among The Beasts. Enlisted to help find a kidnapped child,a former Marine Lieutenant must overcome his own demons to try and save the child. Tory ...

  14. Among the Beasts (2023) Movie Reviews

    Flowers + Movies = Perfect Halloween Get $40 off spooky flowers with ticket purchase. ... Among the Beasts (2023) Critic Reviews and Ratings Powered by Rotten Tomatoes Rate Movie. Close Popcornmeter The percentage of users who made a verified movie ticket purchase and rated this 3.5 stars or higher. Learn more ...

  15. Among the Beasts (2023)

    When a gangster's daughter reluctantly teams with a former Marine to find her kidnapped cousin, the combat veteran must overcome his own demons in order to rescue the child. Matthew Newton. Director, Writer.

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    Visit the movie page for 'Among the Beasts' on Moviefone. Discover the movie's synopsis, cast details and release date. Watch trailers, exclusive interviews, and movie review. Your guide to this ...

  17. Among the Beasts (2023) by Matthew Newton

    Among the Beasts (2023) directed by Matthew Newton. Movie information, genre, rating, running time, photos, trailer, synopsis and user reviews.

  18. Among the Beasts: Trailer 1

    Rent Among the Beasts on Prime Video, Apple TV, or buy it on Prime Video, Apple TV. All Among the Beasts Videos. Among the Beasts: Trailer 1 1:25. Help; About Rotten Tomatoes; Critic Submission;

  19. Among the Beasts at an AMC Theatre near you

    Among the Beasts. Remind Me. When a gangster's daughter reluctantly teams with a former Marine to find her kidnapped cousin, the combat veteran must overcome his own demons in order to rescue the child. 1 hr 33 minNR. Feb 10, 2023. Action.

  20. Among the Beasts (2023) Tickets & Showtimes

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