ALL CREATURES HERE BELOW: A Strangely Alluring Crime Indie

Rarely does a film provoke as many emotions as All Creatures Here Below. At times, it’s strangely hypnotic and delightful, and at others, absolutely horrifying. Though not a perfect balance between the two, wavering occasionally without the necessary buildup, it is mostly an alluring, surprising indie, that expresses the talent of all involved.

A Couple on the Run

Ruby (Karen Gillan) and Gensen (David Dastmalchian) are a couple struggling to get by. Ruby works as a cleaner, while Gensen makes pizza at a local restaurant. Soon after we meet them, though, both have been fired from their respective jobs, and having already been struggling to get by, are forced to make desperate decisions. This leads Gensen to bet all his remaining money on a c*ck fight, which leads to unfortunate results, and he is forced to go on the run, taking Ruby along with him.

Little does he know, though, that Ruby has taken an unwitting passenger along with them: the neighbor’s baby. With Ruby unwilling to bring the baby back to her neglectful mother, and Gensen desperate to not get caught by the authorities, the three continue on their journey, hoping against odds to make it to their intended destination.

All Creatures Here Below initially seems to be headed in an expected direction. After all, we’ve seen plenty of couple-on-the-run stories, and they typically play out in a similar fashion. But where this film differs is by first casting a light on characters living on the outskirts of society, that make choices based on desperation, born out of circumstances that are beyond their control. It begins with them both losing their jobs, but what we find out is that it had actually started years ago, during their childhoods. The film, in a praiseworthy move, refrains from outright saying what had happened until later on, but there’s an understanding that the past is unavoidable, guiding our actions even after we had chosen to run away from it.

Living, Breathing Characters

What also distinguishes the film is the performances of both Karen Gillan and David Dastmalchian. Ruby, in an impressive performance by Karen Gillan, is a naive but likable character; though it isn’t explicitly stated, it’s clear that she is of special needs in some way. Gillan, who mainstream audiences might know from her role as Nebula in the Marvel films, here is similarly unrecognizable, though this time it’s not through her altered physical appearance. Instead, it’s through her bright-eyed stares and innocent tone of voice. Ruby’s view of the world is through rose-tinted glasses, so she doesn’t understand just what exactly is wrong with the decisions she makes, though we can still tell they come out of a place of compassion. Altogether, Gillan‘s performance is easily the standout of the film.

Gensen, on the other hand, played by Dastmalchian (who also wrote the screenplay for the film) is much more grounded and down-to-earth, yet prone to making spontaneous and rash decisions all the same. Dastmalchian brings a hardened edge to his performance, but, much like Gillan, we can tell that his character has good intentions as well. Together, the two make just about the strangest, yet somehow suitable couple you’ve seen on film in some time, and the two actors play off of this extremely well, each getting a chance to shine in addition to sharing chemistry as a couple. As All Creatures Here Below progresses, the film makes you both sympathetic and resentful towards their choices, which is an admirable feat considering the direction that it eventually heads.

Contrasting Tones

When we first see Ruby and Gensen on the run, though at first filled with a sense of dread given their current situation, soon the film starts to settle into a sort of peaceful tone. It doesn’t appear initially fitting, yet director Colin Schiffli commits to it, and soon we are caught up in the pleasant undertones of the doting couple for their newly found pseudochild. Cinematography by Bongani Mlambo and music by Ceiri Torjussen does much to set this tone as well, casting the surrounding landscape made by Ruby and Gensen in a serene light, and setting the couple, and likewise the audience, at ease.

Of course, though, we don’t expect this feeling to last, and that’s where All Creatures Here Below starts to slightly jump ship. Though the film mostly does an adequate job at wavering between calmness and tension before this, largely thanks to editing by Amanda C. Griffin, it’s the final few moments that feel off-putting. After a certain act had happened, I knew what direction the film was headed, and so what occurs doesn’t necessarily feel unexpected. It’s just that the way it is done leaves an unfortunately sour taste in your mouth, questioning if there was anything else to be done, or whether there was enough backing for it. It’s unfortunate, given that much of what had preceded these last few moments had a lot going for it.

All Creatures Here Below: Conclusion

Though not flawless, All Creatures Here Below will likely have you conflicted as well as moved by its events, in addition to being wowed by the stirring performances of both Karen Gillan and David Dastmalchian. It’s a film that deserves to be seen.

All Creatures Here Below will be released to limited theaters and VOD on May 17, 2019.