Animal Short Film Review

Directed by Cody Farren

Written by: Cody Farren

Starring: Dane Whyte O’Hara, Johnny Harkin, Claire J. Loy

Short Film Review by: Holly Baker

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Animal (2023) strikes home like a blade to the heart.

Cody Farren’s dramatic short deals with heavy topics surrounding adolescent teens, such as abuse and mental health; therefore, viewer discretion is advised. Like Netflix’s Adolescence (2025), this film contains an important message about youth violence and bullying and the way these issues are often linked to external factors as children grow up.

The story follows a schoolboy who is a victim of brutal, relentless bullying from an older peer. He seeks violent revenge against him; however, his plan quickly falls apart, leading to a tragic outcome.

Although a short piece (15 minutes in length), each moment makes a profound contribution to the film’s wider message. I would not be surprised if schools were eager to screen this to draw attention to the realities of bullying and so that children feel seen when dealing with mental health problems and abuse.

Aside from its vital message, there are some significant creative achievements here. The film’s use of music to create tension is remarkable, and viewers may find moments uncomfortable due to the distressing impact this has. Additionally, the film’s artistic use of lighting distinguishes its scenes brilliantly, each setting having its own distinct atmosphere through its colouring and the unique feel these create.

The film combines moments of surrealism with intimate, naturalistic filmmaking techniques. Viewers may find this film to have the same familiar realism as the BBC’s Normal People (2020), which enacts similar methods, both pieces resulting in an enhanced, emotional feel. An example of realism in Animal is in its inclusion of the social media app Snapchat to depict an interaction between two characters. Crucially, a relatable modern-day online space is used to tell a story that is representative of an unfortunate reality. As well as this, similarly to Adolescence, the film has an effective use of young actors in its cast, adding to the realistic feel of the piece and enhancing its harrowing impact.

The film’s contrasting use of a 1:1 aspect ratio in the film’s first third to a wide aspect ratio in the rest of the film effectively uses space to visually demonstrate the significance of how small, confined moments can have drastic consequences. The transition, about 5 minutes in, to a wide aspect ratio is the actualisation of these consequences, both symbolically, through framing, and through what occurs here in the plot.

Dane Whyte O’Hara, who plays Mark, the film’s bully, exceptionally portrays his character's disturbance. As is usually the case, Mark is a victim of verbal and physical violence, leading to his struggle with addiction and his becoming a bully himself. O’Hara performs Mark’s complexity masterfully, demonstrating how bullying is usually a result of difficulties elsewhere, leading to a continuous, toxic cycle of abuse.

More than anything, Animal feels like a call to action. Urgently, adolescents and young people struggle with life-altering mental health problems, which stem from a system that lacks the ability to identify and support those in need. This film acts as a vital conversation starter, drawing attention to the issues that desperately need it. Through viewing this film, audiences will hopefully gain a deeper understanding of the struggles young people face, perhaps leading to a world where instances similar to the one presented in this film can be prevented.