Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Animal is the rare blockbuster that’s both a phenomenon and a polarizer. Ranbir Kapoor disappears into Ranvijay — a son so possessed by his father (Anil Kapoor, never better) that he becomes the violence the father couldn’t condone.
The film is 3 hours 21 minutes of operatic violence, daddy issues, and Bobby Deol as a mute villain who chews scenery with his teeth. It’s deliberately excessive in a way that some will find empowering and others will find indefensible. Both readings have weight.
What’s undeniable: the technical craft. Manoj Pillai’s cinematography is genuine cinema. The needle-drops are impeccable. Ranbir Kapoor reminds you why he’s the best actor of his generation.
This is not a film. It’s a confrontation.
