This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

The first must-see film of the year.

It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

I came across animal kingdom via the American series, I have not watched the American series yet, purposely because on checking the reviews i discovered the original title film.I much prefer to check out the origins of TV series first especially if there is a book or film.Man was I disappointed! I turned off at 60 minutes because its shallow uninteresting and daft.My only hope now is the TV series or I fear much like I have in the past wasted my evening on Australian trash.I really would like one day to watch an Australian film that is at least good but they are awful actors seriously awful the best film inever remember watching was memoir and again same actor etc Australia seem to have a handful of actors and I'm not hating please believe me, I've travelled Australia and tbh what a boring bunch they are in real life too.I watch all genres all languages (subtitles really help make a film come alive for me) but this is another poopoo.I have it a 3/10 because it held me for an hour whilst I ate my vegetable Biriani,which was fantastic if I do say so myself.Poo.

Seventeen year old Joshua "J" Cody (James Frecheville) is alone after his mother dies of a drug overdose. He seeks help from his maternal grandmother Janine "Smurf" Cody (Jacki Weaver) who takes him in. His mother had kept them away from her criminal mother and three brothers. Andrew "Pope" Cody (Ben Mendelsohn) is in hiding. Craig Cody (Sullivan Stapleton) is hyper. Darren Cody (Luke Ford) is barely older than J. Family friend Barry "Baz" Brown (Joel Edgerton) is the tough leader along with Pope. The cops keep surveillance on the family. Renegade cops shoots Baz dead sending the family into a spiral. After they ambush and kill two cops, police detective Nathan Leckie (Guy Pearce) takes J into custody for an interview.This is a great Australian crime drama. I wish Edgerton doesn't die so early in the movie. The acting is good all around with an exceptional performance from Jacki Weaver. It is dark and unrelenting. There are also a few funny moments like Pope ragging on his brother being gay. The main drawback of this movie is Frecheville. He doesn't have the charisma for a lead. He is surrounded by great actors acting circles around him. It's only his second acting credit and his character is suppose to be a blank. If he is a superior find, that would put the movie into the stratosphere.

Pope in this movie, his eyes, they're pure evil. What else can you say, the first moment he enters the act, you just get a massively uneasy feeling wash over you. The music in this movie is really well done. Came to this movie after watching The Rover and this one is as much if not better than that one. It has the same feel to it. Very stark deep and emotionally involving.. The characters develop incredibly well, you end up feeling their feelings. When Pope murders the guy's girlfriend, that was pretty much one of the most evil things I've ever seen in a movie. It was actually absolutely shocking. The animal kingdom is full of beasts. Let us not forget that humans are beasts just like all the rest.

An unrelenting crime thriller/dysfunctional family drama with brilliant acting and a pace that never lets up. Jacki Weaver is the matriarch of a family of gangsters, one more hot headed than the next. Trouble doesn't so much follow them as it exudes FROM them. Writer/director David Michôd shies away from nothing with this film. Weaver is astounding in the role that put her on the international map but the entire cast is excellent. This is likely the most demented brood since the Borgias. Joel Edgerton and Sullivan Stapleton are among Weaver's boys. Guy Pearce is the cop who'll do anything it takes to nail them. The stunning cinematography is by Adam Arkapaw. A great movie.