Tony Gilroy’s Behemoth! is a neatly composed story about the chaos of life, and music’s ability to create order where little exists. Gilroy has gathered a wonderful array of talented performers, including Pedro Pascal, Olivia Wilde, Will Arnett, Alexa Swinton, and several more, with Pascal appearing as the most consistent and prominent part of the film, essentially taking on the role of the melody.

The supporting cast, meanwhile, are used as components to build in layers and make the story all the bolder. The result is a rich, authentic narrative about a musician navigating a complicated life. As he works through romantic relationships, strained family ties, and supporting a sick mother while confronting the consequences of his past, Alex (Pascal) seeks to bring the simple harmony to his personal life that so much of his professional one is built around.

Before getting into the weeds of this story, this movie places such a profound focus on the score that I would be remiss to begin by talking about anything else. Gilroy worked with not just one, but nine individual composers on this film, many of whom have acclaimed bodies of work under their belt. James Newton Howard, Alan Silvestri, Brandon Roberts, Michael Abels, Emily Bear, Lukas Frank, Michael Giacchino, Henry Jackman, and Nemi Melumad all contribute to the music of the film to varying degrees. Behemoth! cleverly plays with the score, with diagetic moments as Alex experiences and feels the music in a way that sends his mind back to important moments in his life.

While music often underscores what happens on the big screen, this film allows every note not just to swell, but to be felt, and to linger.

From here, much of the narrative hinges on the music as it plays, and there is no escaping the powerful scales that take center stage in a way that is not typical for a feature film. While music often underscores what happens on the big screen, Gilroy allows every note not just to swell, but to be felt, and to linger as the emotional beats of the story become the underlying soundtrack to the score. However, because the music is such a prominent element of Behemoth!’s story, the pace feels much slower, and there are scenes that could be viewed as overstaying their welcome. Personally, I was happy to revel in the thoughtful and relaxed state as the sounds flowed forth, but it does leave more room for the audience to fill in the blanks than a movie with more dialogue, or even more action, playing out on screen.
Behemoth!’s Story Is Not For Everyone

Pedro Pascal and Will Arnett leaning on cars facing each other in Behemoth!

Further adding to the challenge of connecting with the characters is that many of them have a distinct moral failing. As charming as Pascal is, and as much as everyone in the cast is made to feel very human and imperfect, there are a lot of choices made which cause the characters to come across as unlikable. Alex gets slightly more leeway as the protagonist of the story, and the reasons behind his behavior are explored and explained to a degree. While he has some unlikable traits, Pascal plays a largely considerate, thoughtful, and measured man. He does cross the line at times, but ultimately, he appears to be someone who cares deeply, and finds solace and understanding in performing.

The story is deeply moving, bright, hopeful, and continues to resonate after the credits roll.

There is also a ray of sunshine in the character of Viviana, played by Alexa Swinton, who, like so many of the supporting cast, gets very little screen time. She is integral to the story in a way that brings everything together and makes the story feel more worthwhile. Otherwise, the supporting cast do a wonderful job playing predominantly frustrating and immature characters, at least from the perspective of Pascal’s Alex.

The ultimate message of the film appears to hammer home the idea that there is peace and harmony to be found, even in a chaotic and distorted life, and the literal music of the film helps Alex to make sense of that. In this way at least, the story is deeply moving, bright, hopeful, and continues to resonate after the credits roll. Behemoth! is charming, provocative, and ultimately encourages the audience to live authentically and peacefully. Behemoth! releases in theaters on Friday, December 4.

Release Date

December 4, 2026

Runtime

124 Minutes

Director

Tony Gilroy

Writers

Tony Gilroy

Producers

Sanne Wohlenberg, John Gilroy, Tony Gilroy