James R | On 10, Jul 2022

Director: Chris Williams
Cast: Karl Urban, Zaris-Angel Hator, Jared Harris, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Dan Stevens, Kathy Burke
Certificate: PG

“That’s not true.” “But the book says otherwise, and it’s going to outlast both of us.” That’s the conversation had by famed hunter Jacob (Karl Urban) and young would-be shipmate Maisie Brumble (Zaris-Angel Hator) halfway through The Sea Beast – and the fact that both adult and child have the same realisation at the same point is at the heart of what makes the seafaring adventure such a charming voyage.

The film introduces us to the fearsome vessel known as The Inevitable, which promises an unavoidable fate for its equally fierce crew – a ragtag band of misfits who live a great life and, inevitably, die a great death. But, crucially, we’re introduced to these hunters through the eyes of Maisie, an orphan who reads every night of their exploits in a much-thumbed paperback.

She dreams of running away from her children’s home to join them and, one night, does exactly that, crossing paths with Jacob, the second-in-command to the legendary Captain Crow (Jared Harris) and the loyal – and lethal – first mate, Sarah Sharp (Marianne Jean-Baptiste). As Maisie arrives, they’re under increasing pressure from the crown to hunt down The Bluster, the most dangerous monster the hunters have faced yet.

Needless to say, the monsters aren’t quite as nasty as we’re led to believe, and a large part of the plot revolves around Maisie’s discovery – and subsequent efforts to raise awareness – of the cruelty that humans have wrought upon the sea beasts. So far, so How to Train Your Kraken, and director Chris Williams doesn’t skimp on the cute critters, with a whole bunch of small creatures almost definitely inspired by kitten videos on YouTube.

Those seeking DreamWorks-rivalling animation might be a tad disappointed, as the lavish ocean vistas aren’t always matched by the relatively simple depiction of the human characters. But The Sea Beast’s strengths lie in the depths of its script more than its surface visuals. Co-written by Williams and Nell Benjamin, it’s a nuanced exploration of revisionism, and of the consequences of pernicious propaganda – with its thoughtful deconstruction of heroic myths, it’s like a family-friendly version of The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford.

Those timely themes are brought to life with pleasingly poetic language; the dialogue is prone to a piratical flourish that gives The Sea Beast a tone that’s all its own. The cast clearly enjoy wrapping their larynxes around it, from Harris as the grizzled captain to Urban as derring-do hero who has never stopped to question his worldview. Zaris-Angel Hator, meanwhile, is a delight as Maisie, capable of delivering big ideas with the smallest and lightest of touches.

The result treats grown-ups and young viewers alike with a welcoming balance of heart and humour. An enjoyable, accessible outing, it steers a promising course for Netflix’s original animation, following on from the success of Apollo 10 1/2: A Space Odyssey and Klaus while paving the way for Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio. How to Train Your Kraken? Yarr, me mateys. Yarr.

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