X-Men: Fear The Beast (2015)
X-Men: Fear The Beast (2015)
Written by long time X-Men scribe, editor and composer John Ottman and screenwriter Byron Burton, this Bryan Singer directed movie starts with a Thing inspired snow-covered Inuit village where a mysterious creature stalks the place, blood dripping from its claws. Cut to Hank McCoy aka Beast (Nicholas Hoult) trying to escape the events of 2013's X-Men: Dark Phoenix. which shattered the X-Men team. Hank is using the special serum introduced in Singer's 2006 X-Men: The Cure to look Human and keep his mutation in check however after a Danger Room session vs the 'Friends of Humanity' group sees Beast losing control of his feral nature, he withdraws to a cabin in Alaska owned by Professor X (Patrick Stewart) to try and get himself under control.
Befriending one of his few 'neighbours' (they are an hour's drive apart) Hank discovers he not the only one with a problem as the neighbour turns out to be a scientist who Hank had read the works of who had gone missing after delivering a speech on 'unlocking mutation'. Seems Dr Paul Cartier had unlocked his bestial side which Hank could smell on him. They share the serum. Using meditation Hank knows peace.
Until an old Inuit seeks him out- calling himself Shaman (Bernard Starlight) he informs Hank the 'monster' he helped is killing villagers. Hank travels to Cartier's cabin to find it trashed, like something big and white furred broke out. Hank called Professor X for help in finding Cartier as he reasons the serum will be marking him as a mutant. Xavier cannot find Cartier, but does find Wolverine (Hugh Jackman). Hank sets out to find his fellow X-Men.
Logan has been getting his own peace in the Canadian wilds and is not best pleased to be disturbed. He is about to tell Hank to 'stuff it' then he spots Shaman, at which point his demeanour changes "that serious?" he asks "Great Beast" is the reply and Logan is on-board - his departing "say hello to Michael for me" was a great deep cut Easter Egg among many for fans. Hank has to drop the pretend to hunt Cartier and the two mutants are soon crossing the Canadian landscape tracking Cartier. They discuss many things including Wolverine killing Jean to prevent her becoming Phoenix, though Logan brushes off Hank.
A destroyed village leads the two mutants into a confrontation with Cartier, now a nine foot, white furred monster - the movie not having to spend budget on other special effects really shows here as most of the $90 million budget goes into making the monster come to life as a mixture of cgi and physical suit effects. Screaming the name 'Wendigo' over and over the monster attacks the mutants, and a superb no-holds battle takes place, but it is clear the mutants are losing, until two black/white blurs attack the Wendigo as Northstar (Olivier Martinez ) and Aurora (Juliette Binoche) join the fight - the additional mutants make all the difference and Wolverine is able to finish off Wendigo while Beast holds him.
Fight over, Wolverine introduces Beast to Northstar and Aurora, the former is very cold and standoffish, but the latter flirts with Hank. Northstar confirms 'the Flight is coming' so Wolverine convinces Hank to leave rather than deal with being in Canada illegally. On the way back Hank and Logan finally talk honestly about the death of Jean and how it tore the X-Men apart - Logan agrees to consider returning as he drops Hank off at his cabin.
Human Hank walks back into the Mansion- Xavier is alarmed he is using the serum, but Hank tells him has something better as his form shifts to blue fur due to the holographic image inducer he has built. Xavier asks him for more details as the door closes.
In a mid-credits we see a man in a suit (John Hamm) watch Hank and Logan talking outside Hank's cabin. Then we see him walk into Cartier's smashed cabin. He picks up some fur, and starts picking up some notes, and some samples of Hank's serum. He places them carefully in a suitcase monogrammed with Dr. N. Essex on. Giving us our first glimpse of the infamous Mr. Sinister, who seems to be the next villain for the X-Men based on the rumours surrounding Singers next X-Men movie.
X-Men: Fear The Beast is a worthy addition to the X-Men franchise, giving Singer six for six in terms of quality mutant movies. Given rumours of a re-boot movie and Singer being sacked the director has delivered a movie that while low-key compared to the previous outing or 2009's The Wolverine certainly cements his place as the X-Men 'go-to' man. We look forward to whatever X-Men: Vigilance turns out to be, though one hopes we will get the merry mutant gang back together for it.
