Beautiful Creatures

If you want science fiction that respects its own premise, Beautiful Creatures is available in the UK on Amazon Prime Video right now. The runtime earns every minute, with nothing here that feels like padding. A 6/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Alden Ehrenreich anchors it with a performance that grounds the bigger ideas in something human. Available now on Amazon Prime Video — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

Beautiful Creatures is not trying to be everything to everyone, and that focus is exactly what makes it work. What makes Beautiful Creatures work is that the ideas never crowd out the people having them. Ethan Wate just wants to get to know Lena Duchannes better, but unbeknownst to him, Lena has strange powers. As Lena's 16th birthday approaches she might decide her fate, to be good or evil. A choice which will impact her relationship forever. Alden Ehrenreich and Alice Englert lead a cast that makes the ambitious moments land. Beautiful Creatures came out in 2013. The world-building is meticulous enough to sustain multiple rewatches, with details early on that only make sense later. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

For late-night viewing or a proper weekend binge, Beautiful Creatures fits the bill. It rewards viewers regardless of what else is in their watch history. It is a manageable watch, easy to fit into a single evening. Watch for Alden Ehrenreich in particular — the performance elevates the material. Satisfying on multiple levels.