Adèle Exarchopoulos Stars in Thriller

The thin line between humans and animals is blurred even further in writer/director Thomas Cailley‘s “The Animal Kingdom.”

The surreal thriller, which is co-written by Pauline Munier, imagines a world where mutations in human genetics cause people to transform into hybrid creatures. When François’ (Romain Duris) wife becomes affected by this mysterious condition and disappears into a nearby forest, he enlists the help of a local police officer (Adèle Exarchopoulos) to find her. François’ son Emile (Paul Kircher) joins the quest to reunite the family.

“The Animal Kingdom” premiered as the opening night selection of the 2023 Cannes Un Certain Regard. It went on to be nominated for 12 César Awards and will next screen as the opening night selection of Rendezvous with French Cinema in New York on February 29.

Writer/director Cailley said in a press statement that “The Animal Kingdom” opens a new door into post-apocalyptic narratives. “The idea of human-animal mutation allows us to approach this question from a concrete, physical angle, in the bodies of the characters themselves,” Cailley said. “Not through the prism of inevitable collapse or another post-apocalyptic story but through the portrayal of a vital, violent and creative impulse.”