Netflix has released the first Beasts of No Nation trailer. Written and directed by Cary Fukunaga (True Detective), the film revolves around a young boy who is forced to join a unit of mercenary fighters when a civil war erupts in his West African country.  Idris Elba, who is also a producer on the film, plays the army’s terrifying commander, and as you can see in this trailer, he is (as usual) absolutely captivating.

The movie will premiere at the Venice Film Festival, and it’s one of my must-see films of TIFF. The major theater chains are currently boycotting the film because it’s set to debut on Netflix the same day as a theatrical release, and it will be interesting to see how this affects what would be, under a normal release platform, a possible awards contender.

Check out the Beasts of No Nation trailer below. The film opens in select theaters and on Netflix on October 16th.


Here’s the TIFF synopsis for Beasts of No Nation:

Based on the highly acclaimed novel, director Cary Fukunaga’s Beasts of No Nation brings to life the gripping tale of Agu (newcomer Abraham Attah), a child soldier torn from his family to fight in the civil war of an African country. Idris Elba dominates the screen in the role of Commandant, a warlord who takes in Agu and instructs him in the ways of war.

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Image via Netflix