RARE BEASTS: A Review Of Billie Piper’s Rom-Com

Cinema Scholars is pleased to review Billie Piper’s directorial debut, Rare Beasts. A dark romantic comedy starring Billie Piper, Leo Bill, David Thewlis, and Kerry Fox.

Introduction:

In her directorial debut, Billie Piper presents to us a poignant comedy. One that focuses on the constant angst facing a single mother in her quest for love and fulfillment. The nihilistic tone of modern life is showcased through intimate moments in the story.

This patchwork of lifelike experiences will hit home for many women. With beautiful prose, Rare Beasts validates the daily struggles faced in our misogynistic society. This is interwoven with beautifully written and acted comedic scenes. It’s uncomfortable, funny and powerfully effective story telling.

Synopsis:

Single mother, Mandy (Billie Piper) meets Pete (Leo Bill), a religious man on an uncomfortable first date. This eventually transcends into a fragile romance. They cautiously step into a relationship, leaning into their odd attraction. Unfortunately, there are fundamental differences that doom their efforts.

Pete wants a traditionally feminine woman. But he is swayed by Mandy’s conflicted acceptance. Mandy, desperate for love, receives unhealthy validation of her insecurities from Pete. They embark on a quirky and broken romance. Their journey is fraught with complexities, as well as self-deception. Ultimately leading to Mandy’s self-awakening.

Along the way, Mandy discovers self-love. Not only through her own experience with Pete, but through the renaissance of her parent’s relationship in the face of tragedy. She also discovers how her own identity is reflected through the behavior of her tempestuous 7-year-old son, Larch (Tobey Woolf).

As powerful changes come into her life, Mandy finds her strength. She ultimately comes to honest terms with her life. Mandy battles the nefarious male oppression that binds countless women to a life of anxious insecurities. This while she struggles through her unstable relationship with Pete.

Analysis:

The writing, timing and performances stand out as powerful in Rare Beasts. Penned by Billie Piper herself, scenes and dialogue are sublimely written. They are also raw in their execution. It’s hard not to chuckle within five minutes of the movie starting. Yet also feel exposed and called out as a woman.

Piper crafts an experience that any single women of adult years will feel deeply. Her tale  serves as a self-reflective commentary. This relatable quality transcends to men as well. Pete is also a product of his environment. His religious upbringing has taught him that women should be feminine, dainty and pliant.

Instead, his world is filled with complex, indignant women. They brandish their romantic battle scars as he searches for gentle sex. This gives Pete a sympathetic edge. Also, he finds the blatant misogyny among his peers unrelatable. Even if he proliferates the more subtle qualities. He celebrates Mandy when she pushes back against the injustice. Yet deep inside, finds her strength troubling.

Complexity and Identity:

Pete is fighting a fallacy of gender identity. He seeks a woman of older standards in a modern world. This crushing disappointment leads to his own neurosis and dissatisfaction. This is a kindred thread between them. They are two sides of the same coin. Mandy yearns for unconditional self-acceptance. Despite the impossible standards of society.

Pete seeks that impossible standard in a woman for himself. This creates an unhealthy and volatile bond between them. This bond is at the core of the plot of Rare Beasts. It works as an effective story-telling engine. Coming with droll pitfalls and squirmy moments of intimacy.

Adding further complexity in her life, is her son, Larch. The boy desperately seeks a male figurehead. He quickly latches onto Pete. Being kind at heart, with a healthy sense of boundaries, Pete is relatively good for the boy. This natural chemistry between them pushes Mandy to continue her dalliance with Pete. Even with all the searing red flags.

In this aspect, Mandy clearly has another lesson to learn. She must carefully weigh out how her position in life will affect her son. As well as his own perception of women, and his future manhood.

Mandy’s parents’ story arc adds a deeply emotional vein to the film. This triggers the pivotal lesson for Mandy. Her mother, Marion (Kerry Fox), has suffered through a life-long and neglectful relationship with Mandy’s father, Vic (David Thewlis).

Vic has stepped out on his family throughout all of their lives. When tragedy strikes the family, Vic and Marion offer Mandy a bittersweet cautionary lesson about love. It’s one that finally pushes her to take a stand in her life.

Critique:

Piper nails it on all fronts. She brings full emotional impact to the film. Don’t be surprised to feel tears stinging your eyes while a giggle escapes your lips. This is a deftly woven work of art. It’s a stark reflection of our societal traps when it comes to love and acceptance.

Piper handles the subject of feminism without apologies and without annoying virtue-signaling. Some may find the conversations triggering or overly personal, and that’s fine. They should be. Body image, female sexuality, and self-discovery are messy subjects. They shouldn’t be constantly romanticized.

Rare Beasts starts with an ever-present busyness that slows for deeper moments for impact. The cinematography and tone follow Mandy’s self-discovery. Keeping pace with her revelations in a poetic rhythm. The film dances along the screen. It sometimes confronts a situation with graphic anxiety.

Sometimes it plays with subtle touch to tickle the audience to respond. Uncomfortable at times, but never dull or pandering. The film serves to teach a lesson in self-discovery. Yet without any of the art-house traps of pretense. This is just a solid film, executed with poetic talent, and wonderful flair.

Technically, the sound design and camera work are solid. This is a story from Mandy’s point of view, for the most part. It’s filmed to feel real, as well as to trigger a little bit of ourselves in her experiences.

The movie starts with a jazzy tune in the background. However, these effects fade away from our focus. Shifting to the acting and constant feeling of motion in the story. It’s stream-of-consciousness, executed sublimely with good effect. Every moment feels personal and intimate. Rare Beasts dazzles with emotionally kinetic energy.

Performances:

Billie Piper carries the entire film with a punchy and fantastic performance. You feel every moment of Mandy’s emotional trials. Truly sharing in her experiences. Piper never drops a moment. She is supported by a fabulous team of actors.

Toby Woolf is strong as little Larch. He carries the fiery spark of his mother in a perfect portrayal. Leo Bill brings an incredulous energy to Pete’s role. It’s spot on. All the cast shows up brilliantly. Including Kerry Fox and David Thewlis. It is a testament to Piper’s direction and synergy with her cast.

Conclusion:

Rare Beasts is artfully crafted, intense, and a little defiant. It’s an impressive work of art. Piper is immensely talented. She weaves a beautiful tale of feminine empowerment in her first feature. None should be surprised to see more wonderful work to come from this filmmaker. She has a rare touch.

Rare Beasts opens in select theaters and On Demand on August 20th 2021.