Companion Pieces – Beast and What Richard Did

I’m reviving this because even though it’s not something that gets me that many likes or comments, I feel pretty passionate about it. Beast is a film I watched last year that made a huge impression. In thinking about it plenty afterwards, I realised it reminded me of another film, What Richard Did and the two would make an interesting double feature.

Both films have an understated feel to them. Neither commanded a huge budget which may have influenced their respective approaches. They both use the understatement to their advantage though. They’re actually more powerful for the subtleties within. Both films take place in small, close-knit communities. They make the situations feel more remote but also the characters more isolated. Everybody knows you, your business and the judging can come across as paranoia to our characters. Perhaps this influences decisions or situations. It also provides us as viewers with gorgeous cinematography and surroundings too.

To briefly describe them, Beast is a 2018 British debut (feature-length) film by Michael Pearce starring Jessie Buckley and Johnny Flynn. The latter plays an outsider who shakes up the local community and see Jessie Buckley’s Moll caught somewhere in the middle. It’s a slow-burning thriller and entirely fascinating. What Richard Did is older, a 2012 Irish film by Lenny Abrahamson (he of the stunning Room) and stars Jack Reynor. He plays the titular Richard, a young up and coming Rugby player enjoying his final summer before University. One moment in one night throws that into jeopardy and the film unfolds from there.  

In Beast, Moll is oppressed by an overbearing family and as the film unfolds, it’s suggested that this is due to an incident. We’re unsure what that is though, and so your initial reading is that her family are being too harsh. They want to protect her, keep her naïve. In an early scene, Moll dodges an awkward ‘birthday party’ and spends all night out dancing. She’s then chastised for it by her Mother, for a girl old enough to be going out to a nightclub, it seems unnerving. Things are different in What Richard Did. The parents could be read as overbearing but in a different way. Richard is on the brink of sporting success and they’re very much pushing him towards it. Nothing should stand in his way as far as they’re concerned, certainly not one ‘silly’ mistake.

There is a fundamental difference in the way the parents are developed in the films. In Beast, Moll very much shuns her family believing that they don’t have her best interests at heart. She doesn’t quite runaway but there’s a clear separation. Whereas in What Richard Did, Richard confides in his Dad who helps try to cover it up and hide him until they can master some kind of control over the situation. Moll never once reaches out for her family during her hardest moments. It’s quite telling.

The adults in both films do have one thing in common. Mistakes they make are never really addressed. Instead it’s the younger characters who shoulder the burden, the blame and the consequences with those who are older looking only to exonerate themselves. You could choose to read that as a political statement, or maybe even a social one. In the end, Moll probably takes more responsibility for her own situation than Richard does, but in neither ending do we see them supported by their families or those in charge.

Both Beast and What Richard Did ask you to decide if you believe that the characters made a one-off, uncharacteristic mistake or that both have deeper problems and are past the point of redemption. It’s an unclear line in both films, but Beast handles it slightly more deftly. Something both films do so impressively is that they are slow-burning character studies. Without this, you may not care as much, and the subtle points would be lost.

One commonality that the two films share the most is that they both star relatively unknown breakout stars. Jack Reynor plays Richard. The two films play really nicely as contradictions in how the young cast are portrayed. What Richard Did explores arrogance in youth and how the younger can be so damaging-ly self-confident. Moll in Beast is anything but confident at the beginning. She’s reserved, nervous. If she had met Richard, I doubt they’d have exchanged a word. Richard is privileged, almost put on a pedestal. Moll was more hidden by her family than anything else and always playing second fiddle. With both actors, they command your attention every second they are on-screen.

Both are also dealing with that fun, not stressful at all, theme of early or first love. Intense and confusing, it’s new to both and they meet people who either directly or indirectly change their futures. Both characters also seem to struggle with authority, lying, one for themselves and one for somebody they’ve only just met. It’s then a case of what guilt looks like and how it changes you.

Both films stayed with me long after the credits had finished rolling. It’s the subtle suggestions and moments that aren’t resolved on-screen that play out in my head. Neither ending categorically tells you what happened to our main characters or what’s going through their heads. Beast in particular allows a lot of room for your own interpretation. My own opinion has shifted several times since watching it. I wonder if on a second or third viewing, certain things would make me change that opinion again.

There are lines that are unmistakably meant to throw a spanner into the works of how you’re viewing a situation. Beast’s Pascal upon first meeting Moll says “I can save you” and it’s unclear if he is meaning just from the current moment or more generally. Is this a poisonous relationship or are they improving each other. It’s a clear question and the film very cleverly presents you with enough evidence that you can conclude either way. The chances to two people entirely agreeing on the exact meaning of the ending isn’t likely. I love that about it. It’s similar with What Richard Did, but it’s easier to draw the same conclusion.

It’s near impossible to discuss either ending without giving too much away and I really don’t wish to do that. We do have the events playing out in contrasting timelines though. Beast has much build-up before some violence but there are signs preempting it for a while and it drives up the tension on several occasions. In What Richard Did the violence is a small burst and happens much earlier. There aren’t huge signs that it’s coming until it happens which ups the ante and I liked how they allowed it to unfold. After that we’re just dealing with the aftermath.

While the two films draw different conclusions, it’s certainly an interesting double feature. With Beast starring a female lead, and What Richard Did offering a male perspective, I couldn’t help but compare the gender roles slightly. As both tackle guilt, responsibility and growing up, it led me to wonder if that’s why we end with what I believe are different outcomes. Both are young, yes, but is it deemed that girls have to be more grown up and accountable? Moll seems to have remorse and to want to take responsibility. Do we get the same from Richard? I’m less convinced.

I’d highly recommend both films either way. If you’ve seen either, I’d love to know your thoughts on them.