Ben Affleck and Kerry Washington are taking on one of the most frightening situations any parent can imagine in Netflix’s upcoming crime thriller Animals. The first trailer for the film has been released, giving viewers a look at a couple who are forced to leave their carefully planned lives behind when their young son is kidnapped.
Affleck plays Mark Kimball, a Los Angeles mayoral candidate whose life appears to be under control. He has a successful political career, a family and a carefully built public image. Everything changes when his son is taken. Along with his wife Abigail, played by Washington, Mark is pushed into a desperate fight to bring their child home.
The trailer is especially striking because it contains no dialogue. Instead, it relies on tense visuals and emotional moments to show the growing fear and desperation of the Kimball family. As they search for a way to rescue their son, they realize that they cannot easily trust the people around them.
The couple must find enough money to pay the ransom while also dealing with enemies connected to Mark’s political career. Their powerful positions do not make the situation easier. In fact, the political world surrounding Mark creates even more uncertainty as the family tries to understand who may be helping them and who could be working against them.
Gillian Anderson also appears in the film as a fixer who becomes involved in the couple’s dangerous mission. Steven Yeun plays Mark’s campaign manager, adding another layer of tension to the story. Luis Gerardo Méndez and Adriana Paz are also part of the cast.
Animals marks an important return for Affleck as both an actor and filmmaker. He directed and co wrote the film, making it his first time working in front of and behind the camera since Air, his 2023 sports drama. Affleck also starred in Air alongside his longtime friend and collaborator Matt Damon.
Affleck and Damon famously won an Academy Award for writing Good Will Hunting. The film starred Damon and Affleck and was directed by Gus Van Sant. Affleck later directed Argo, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2013 and became another major achievement in his career.
Animals was originally written by Connor McIntyre, with later revisions by Billy Ray and Affleck. Affleck, Damon and Dani Bernfeld are producing the film through their Artists Equity banner. Brad Weston and Collin Creighton are also producers through MakeReady, which developed the project with Fifth Season.
The thriller will be released in select theaters and on Netflix on October 9. With a powerful cast and a story built around fear, family and survival, Animals promises to deliver a tense experience for viewers.