Corporate Animals

When a boss from hell takes her disgruntled employees on a team-building weekend within the caves of New Mexico, something tells you this is not going to be a “teamwork makes the dreamwork” kind of getaway. Things go from bad to worse when Lucy, aforementioned egomaniac and CEO of Incredible Edibles (played with diabolical deliciousness by a magnificent Demi Moore) demands her unprepared group take the advanced course through the caves. Add in a tiny fatal earthquake and what you have is a twisted, rib-tickling horror comedy from Creep creator Patrick Brice.

Whilst Moore (Ghost, Disclosure) keeps this film’s nose firmly to its grotesque grindstone, this is an ensemble piece and each character, from the overbearing to the underwhelmed, is exposed and combined by British writer Sam Bain (Peep Show) to maximum effect, as tensions are released and company secrets revealed. Isiah Whitlock Jr of The Wire fame does a fine job of losing it and giving it to his horrible boss with both barrels (guess you’re not really thinking about getting fired when you sink into day 6 of dehydration) and Deadpool’s own Karan Soni certainly sinks his teeth into the role of mild-mannered, put-upon assistant Freddie aka FT.

Having had its world premiere at Sundance Film Festival in January, Corporate Animals has given audiences a lot to chew on, with its bizarre cabin fever take on “Me Too”, its enviromental spin and its dog eat dog corporate mentality.

Scheduled for an early August release, it’s easy to see why this is a love-it-or-hate-it production: a handful of the plot beats are cliched, relying a little too much on the obvious; there are some hilarious scenes and the interplay between the cast is moreish; visual gags are plentiful and not for the easily squeamish (think recently cancelled Santa Clarita Diet meets The Apprentice in a cave).

Laura Jorden

Corporate Animals does not have a UK release date yet.

For further information about Sundance London 2019 visit here.

Read more reviews from the festival here.

Watch the trailer for Corporate Animals here: