Animal Kingdom
Dir: David Michôd
2010
****
Animal Kingdom is engrossing, unsettling and pulls no punches - exactly the right criteria for the perfect crime film. The Cody family display traits of violence, unpredictability, ignorance and cold-heartedness, led by the distinctly sweet and deliciously evil Grandma Smurf who orders the murder of her own grandson with a smile on her face. The realistic way this is filmed only adds to the uncomfortable but engrossing entertainment value, it's edge of your seat but peering through your fingers stuff. It's a great debut from David Michôd and the young James Frecheville should get credit for playing the dumb silent teenager brilliantly. It deserves the praise it received.