‘Animale’ Trailer – Female-Driven Body Horror Transforms on VOD Next Month [Exclusive]

A young woman seeking glory in the deadly sport of bullfighting find herself trapped in a body horror nightmare in Animale.

Ranked by Bloody Disgusting as one of the Top 10 Best International Horror Films of 2024, watch the exclusive trailer below.

The French body horror film runs onto VOD August 8 via Film Movement.

In the Camargue region of the South of France, there remains an infamous, long-standing tradition of bullfighting. Local youths participate in the elegant yet dangerous challenge, practicing a modernized version of the sport that seeks not to kill the animals but rather to showcase agility and dominance.

Among them is Nejma, an intrepid 22-year-old with dreams of one day winning the annual competition. The only woman working on the cattle ranch, she trains tirelessly to prove herself equal among the men, both in and outside of the arena.

The ranchers share a deep respect for the bulls, though when a loose bull threatens the community of riders and young men begin turning up dead, a hunt to find and kill the creature begins. Nejma fears for the bull, beginning a dark, mysterious transformation of her own.

Written and directed by Emma Benestan, the France-Belgium-Saudi Arabia co-production premiered at last year’s Cannes Critics’ Week. It went on to play Sitges, where it was nominated for Best Film.

Oulaya Amamra, Damien Rebattel, Vivien Rodriguez, Claude Chaballier, Elies-Morgan Admi-Bensellam, Pierre Roux, Marinette Rafai, and Renaud Vinuesa star.

Daniel Kurland wrote in his review, “Animale is a deeply moving film that strives for far more than disturbing set-pieces. It seeks to ram through societal norms and expectations like a bull in a china shop and absolutely succeeds.”