‘As Bestas’ Lands on Disney+: Denis Ménochet Stars in Rodrigo Sorogoyen’s Unforgettable Rural Thriller

An idyllic Galician hamlet becomes a powder keg of simmering rage in Rodrigo Sorogoyen’s masterful thriller As Bestas. Now, the César-winning film arrives on Disney+ on June 23, 2026, giving a global audience the chance to experience one of the most taut, unsettling rural dramas in recent memory. Starring a ferocious Denis Ménochet opposite a chilling Luis Zahera, this Spanish-French co-production is a slow-burn masterpiece that demands to be seen.

What Is ‘As Bestas’ About?

Antoine (Denis Ménochet) and Olga (Marina Foïs) are a French couple who have traded city life for a remote village in Galicia, Spain. They run a small farm and restore abandoned stone houses, hoping to breathe life into a dwindling community. But their well-intentioned presence rubs some locals the wrong way—especially the volatile brothers Xan (Luis Zahera) and Lorenzo (Diego Anido). What begins as simmering resentment escalates into a nightmare of intimidation, violence, and irreversible tragedy.

What sounds like a simple culture-clash premise quickly morphs into something far more sinister. Sorogoyen, working from a script he co-wrote with Isabel Peña, burrows deep into the paranoia of isolation. Every sideways glance and slammed door is loaded with dread.

Rodrigo Sorogoyen: A Master of Psychological Tension

If you haven’t yet discovered Sorogoyen, As Bestas is the perfect entry point. The Spanish director first turned heads with the gripping political thriller The Candidate (2016) and the devastating Madre (2019), which followed a mother searching for her lost son in France. Sorogoyen flips the script here, placing a French couple in rural Spain and letting the cultural friction simmer into something primal and unnerving.

His signature technique—long, unbroken takes that force the audience to scan every corner of the frame—is on full display. In As Bestas, these extended shots become instruments of pure anxiety. A seemingly calm dinner scene or a quiet walk through the woods crackles with menace because Sorogoyen trusts the viewer to read the unease between the lines.

The film premiered in the Cannes Première section at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, but many critics argued it deserved a slot in the main competition. Its eventual César Award for Best Foreign Film in 2023 only cemented its reputation.

The Cast: A Masterclass in Performance

You can’t talk about As Bestas without highlighting its actors. Denis Ménochet delivers what might be his finest performance yet. Known for his imposing physicality (remember his opening scene in Inglourious Basterds?), Ménochet here shows a quiet vulnerability that gradually curdles into desperation. He makes Antoine’s stubborn optimism feel both admirable and tragic.

Marina Foïs, often recognized for her comedic roles, proves she’s equally formidable in drama. As Olga, she bears the weight of her husband’s idealism while grappling with her own fears. Their relationship feels achingly real.

But the scene-stealers are Luis Zahera and Diego Anido as the antagonistic neighbors. Zahera, in particular, is terrifying with barely a word. A single glare from him can stop your breath. Their performances elevate the thriller into something almost Shakespearean—a tragedy of pride, land, and misunderstanding.

Why ‘As Bestas’ Matters for the Industry

In an era dominated by franchise blockbusters and algorithmic streaming content, As Bestas stands as a reminder that slow-burn, character-driven storytelling still packs a punch. The film’s success at the Césars and its warm reception at Cannes underline the growing appetite for international co-productions that tackle universal themes through specific cultural lenses.

For streaming platforms like Disney+, adding titles like As Bestas enriches their catalog beyond superheroes and family animation. Subscribers hungry for prestige cinema—especially in the vein of European thrillers—now have a compelling reason to click play. The film’s 2-hour-17-minute runtime allows the tension to breathe, rewarding patient viewers with a devastating payoff.

Streaming Release Date and What to Expect

Mark your calendars: As Bestas becomes available on Disney+ on June 23, 2026. While it’s part of the platform’s daily selection—not necessarily a brand-new addition—it’s a golden opportunity for anyone who missed it in theaters or during its initial festival run.

If you’re a fan of rural thrillers like Straw Dogs or The Wailing, or simply love immersive European cinema, this is a must-watch. Prepare for a film that doesn’t offer easy answers, only thorny questions about community, belonging, and the thin line between hospitality and hatred.

As streaming services continue to reshape how we discover global cinema, As Bestas proves that a story set in a tiny Spanish village can resonate far beyond its borders. Whether you’re a devoted César follower or a casual viewer looking for something gripping, this film will haunt you long after the credits roll.

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