A harrowing true crime thriller from the heart of Australia, Animal Kingdom is one of the most underrated 'crime family' films of recent times. It has a fantastic supporting cast that includes Guy Pearce, Joel Edgerton, Ben Mendelsohn and Jackie Weaver, but the real standout is young star James Frecheville. Frecheville plays youngest family member Joshua 'J' Cody, a young man who gets caught up in his estranged family's criminal dealings after the death of his mother. Loosely based on the Pettingill family who were caught up in the murder of two policemen back in 1988, the film exists as a meditation as to the events surrounding such a crime, anchored by Frecheville's character. At once both simmering with rage and nervous with fear, J finds himself in a game of tug of war between a well-to-do copper (Pearce) and a family he doesn't really know or trust. Worst of all is his terrifying uncle 'Pope' (Mendelsohn, on absolutely terrifying form), probably one of the best heartless b*stards to hit the big screen in the last twenty years. Animal Kingdom is a near-perfect slice of crime; it'll thrill and haunt you in equal measure. What other underrated movies really need to be seen more? Share any more down in the comments.
Cinephile since 1993, aged 4, when he saw his very first film in the cinema - Jurassic Park - which is also evidence of damn fine parenting. World champion at Six Degrees of Separation. Lender of DVDs to cheap mates. Connoisseur of Marvel Comics and its Cinematic Universe.
