First off I'll mention the animation - which people will either love or hate by the end of the movie. Personally, I found it highly creative and refreshing albeit a little clunky in some scenes. Overall, it was really interesting to soak up something so visually different and which reminded me of a picture story book come to life.
Unfortunately this is where most of my praise ends as we deal with a story which basically outlines what would happen if the worst current real life animal activists ever discovered the mystical "Cryptids" existed.
After a chance encounter with a Baku (Dream-eater) as a young girl, veterinarian Lauren begins a life long quest to find the creature and others like it to ensure its long term survival by placing it in a sanctuary known as the Cryptozoo. Basically an animal prison with towering fences and gaudy enclosures. Here she will place the creatures on public display to increase awareness and build a level of acceptance amongst people who have little understanding about them. The zoo is basically Jurassic Park for mythology with all the tacky marketing and shallow consumerism included. There is also a thinly veiled nod to current social movements which grates.
Following in her footsteps is the US military led by Vincent D'Onofrios character from the JP franchise who would also like to use the beasts as military hardware in some crazy plan for future warfare.
Its apt that this is an animated film given how cartoonishly evil this guy really is!
As things unfold and Laura loses control again and again of the plan she so desperately tries to bring to life, she causes the death of many of the creatures and loses friends along the way due to her entitled obsession with a personal vision.
In the end she decides that she's learnt enough from the death and disaster that she should actually leave the beasts alone since they were doing just fine without her in the first place.
Its such a shame the movie goes off in this direction as Laurens' encounter with the Baku should have been a sweet one-off moment that she cherished through her life due to the positive effect it had on her at the time.
Highly entitled and lacking in subtlety, this will leave many a viewer with a sour taste in their mouth.
A generous 4/10.
Unfortunately this is where most of my praise ends as we deal with a story which basically outlines what would happen if the worst current real life animal activists ever discovered the mystical "Cryptids" existed.
After a chance encounter with a Baku (Dream-eater) as a young girl, veterinarian Lauren begins a life long quest to find the creature and others like it to ensure its long term survival by placing it in a sanctuary known as the Cryptozoo. Basically an animal prison with towering fences and gaudy enclosures. Here she will place the creatures on public display to increase awareness and build a level of acceptance amongst people who have little understanding about them. The zoo is basically Jurassic Park for mythology with all the tacky marketing and shallow consumerism included. There is also a thinly veiled nod to current social movements which grates.
Following in her footsteps is the US military led by Vincent D'Onofrios character from the JP franchise who would also like to use the beasts as military hardware in some crazy plan for future warfare.
Its apt that this is an animated film given how cartoonishly evil this guy really is!
As things unfold and Laura loses control again and again of the plan she so desperately tries to bring to life, she causes the death of many of the creatures and loses friends along the way due to her entitled obsession with a personal vision.
In the end she decides that she's learnt enough from the death and disaster that she should actually leave the beasts alone since they were doing just fine without her in the first place.
Its such a shame the movie goes off in this direction as Laurens' encounter with the Baku should have been a sweet one-off moment that she cherished through her life due to the positive effect it had on her at the time.
Highly entitled and lacking in subtlety, this will leave many a viewer with a sour taste in their mouth.
A generous 4/10.