The Sea Beast review: An epic adventure that pulls your heartstrings

4/5

Story: Set during a time when giant creatures ruled the oceans, the film revolves around a girl named Massie who stows away on the ship of Jacob Holland, a sea monster hunter. Together they embark on an adventure to hunt down a feared beast. But will they succeed?

Review: A few animated movies, though primarily made for kids, have the distinct ability to appeal to the emotional sensibilities of adults and children alike. The Sea Beast is one such film. Helmed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Chris Williams, whose directorial credits include Big Hero 6 and Moana, this Netflix film has all that one could ask for in an animated fantasy adventure — grandeur, scope, visuals, sound, and an engaging story that is brought to life impressively.

The central characters in the film are the feisty and wise 11-year-old girl named Massie and legendary sea monster hunter, Jacob Holland. Massie might look young but her words and thoughts would put a grown-up to shame. How often do we come across a child who believes in living a great life and dying a great death? She dreams of becoming a hunter just like her parents, who died fighting a sea creature, and idolises Captain Crow and his second-in-command Holland. Like Massie, Holland is also an orphan. He was rescued by Crow after he lost his parents in a shipwreck. His daring and brave adventures on the sea have been captured in a book that Massie holds close to her. When she finally meets her hero, she makes her wish clear: to get on board the fabled hunting ship, the Inevitable, and join their crew. Although Holland dismisses her, the little girl somehow manages to be a part of Crow and Holland’s epic journey to capture the feared sea beast, Red Bluster. As the narrative progresses, the two lead characters find their beliefs questioned and myths debunked.

The heartwarming friendship between Holland and Massie, and their unlikely bond with the horned creature they nickname ‘Red’ form the fulcrum of the story. As they set off on their voyage, Massie begins to realise that maybe what she had been taught since her birth wasn’t entirely true. Gradually, even Holland comes to the same realisation, and when he does, Massie gleefully exclaims, “The world is wide, Jacob. And you don’t know everything.” It takes a child to change the worldview of the adults in the film, and it’s a delight to see it unfold onscreen. Williams and Nell Benjamin deserve credit for developing well-rounded characters that keep us engrossed till the very end. They succeed in putting us in the shoes of the lead characters and keeping us engaged at an emotional level.

At the surface, The Sea Beast might look like any other fantasy adventure. But the film is more than just that. It tackles complex themes such as man-animal conflict and the inherent greed in human beings. The film is elevated to higher standards with captivating visuals, striking animation, and a score that syncs well with the scenes. If only the movie was released in theatres in India! The big screens would have enabled us to fully experience and appreciate the scale and grandeur of the film.

The creature design, especially that of the Red Bluster, bears similarities to How to Train Your Dragon, and after a point, the story may seem predictable. But the near-perfect execution of the story coupled with heartwarming scenes, thrilling action sequences, endearing characters, and stunning visuals overshadow these minor flaws.

The lovable characters have been brought to life by a voice cast including Karl Urban, Zaris-Angel Hator, Jared Harris, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Dan Stevens, Jim Carter, and Doon Mackichan. Newcomer Hator lends her voice to Massie and adds just the right amount of charm and drama to the character. Urban, who is best known for playing William Butcher in The Boys, is the perfect choice for Holland.

In May this year, Netflix decided to stop developing several animated projects in order to cut costs. But The Sea Beast has put it back on the animation map, on par with giants such as Pixar, DreamWorks Animation, and WB animation.

Verdict: The Sea Beast presents a moving story with breathtaking visuals. It’s a film that will strike a chord with both the young and old alike.