My Animal
Directed by Jacqueline Castel
Written by Jae Matthews
Starring Bobbi Salvör Menuez, Amandla Stenberg, Heidi von Palleske, Stephen McHattie
Rating R
Runtime 100 minutes
In theaters and on digital September 15

by Tori Potenza, Staff Writer

It’s painful, but we can make anything work.

Nothing is more monstrous than burgeoning adulthood. As the body morphs and changes so does our emotional state as we try to make sense of it all, while being too young to fully understand it. It can make one feel different, othered, and of course monstrous. Classic horror stories like Carrie and Ginger Snaps knew how to enhance these natural changes with the supernatural. This subgenre of horror is so fruitful because just as this change is unique and personal for each one of us, these films are unique in their examinations. Exploration of gender and sexual identity have added an additional layer to these tales like with Jennifer Reeder’s film Perpetrator that came out just a few weeks ago, and now Jacqueline Castel’s film My Animal. Castel’s take is one that is equal parts grotesque and beautiful and evokes the emotions of puberty through expertly crafted visual storytelling.

Heather (Bobbi Salvör Menuez) harbors a dark family secret, a lineage she never asked for yet has to deal with the consequences. Because of this, Heather is an outcast and struggles to make friends with the other teenagers in her town. She handles it as best as she can and adheres to certain rules so that her secret is not unleashed on those around her. This all changes when Jonny (Amandla Stenberg), a young figure skater, moves into town. Heather finds an instant connection and spark with Jonny, one that makes her quickly forget about the growing darkness within her. She is unable to control her desires and as the two get closer, Heather begins to realize, no matter how hard she tries, she cannot suppress her nature.

While feminine bodily change as the catalyst for monstrous transformation is at the center of this story, it truly hinges on its sensual romantic elements. For all of its darkness and melodrama, My Animal has an ethereal dream-like tone. Its neon red color palette, blown out lighting, and hazy glow has all the makings of a fairytale. Even with its more horrific elements there is always something romantic and fantastical about the world of this movie. It emulates the feelings of first love with all the excitement and anxiety that comes along with it. Even when it dips into nightmarish sequences, there is something so perfectly beautiful about it that leaves you dazed long after the credits roll. Its synthy 80s score plays up the nostalgic elements of its story making it feel like a romance pulled from another time.

Bobbi Salvör Menuez brings a heartbreaking innocence to their performance as the lead Heather. There is a genuine warmth they bring to Heather as she tries to make connections with those around her, but she is always just slightly on the outside of every group she is a part of; her family, the hockey team, and Jonny’s life. She stands adjacent, but outside of a part of a circle that no one is willing to make space for. so she stands close enough to hear and see what is going on, but not close enough for those to accept her as one of their own. It can be hard to watch if you have ever felt this way, giving you a twinge of pain as you look on and hope that someone saves her from this familiar pain. Menuez tempers this with a dangerous growing primal rage at these changes. It is a powerful performance that highlights Menuez’s acting chops and keeps you engaged with Heather’s struggle.

While telling such a familiar story could feel repetitive, Castel shows how a different voice and perspective behind the camera can yield something new. She is clearly a lover of the horror genre and blends this knowledge with her unique visual eye and attention to detail. Writer Jae Matthews crafts characters that feel lived in and dimensional and their cast expertly executes the mood and tone. Amandla Stenberg, Stephen McHattie, and even smaller performances from Joe Apollonio are memorable and leave a lasting impression. This delicate sapphic love story is so precious and beautiful and shows how the journey is always more important than the destination.

This detail, personal vision, and representation can only come from dedicated creators who deserve to be paid fairly for the work that they do. As the strikes continue, remember to support, donate, and speak up because a whole lot of people out there are fighting for their livelihood.