The brave men stay and watch it happen. They don't run.

Date: Friday 9th October
Film: Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012)
Director: Benh Zeitlin
Starring: Quvenzhane Wallis and Dwight Henry
Running Time: 1 hour 33 minutes
Rating: 9/10

Beasts of the Southern Wild is the first feature length film from Benh Zeitlin, and has leads played by two newcomers to the acting game. A bit of a gamble, some might say, but they have worked together to make a film that is emotional, raw and visually stunning.

Told from the point of view of a wildly imaginative 5 year old, Hushpuppy, who lives with her father in The Bathtub, a community in the Louisiana bayou; Beasts tells the story of the fight for survival when the community are faced with a devastating storm and it's lasting aftermath.

The scenes of devastation, cut alongside the fantasy creatures from Hushpuppy's mind, are beautifully shot and give the whole film a sense of place. You come out feeling like you know what it is like to live in The Bathtub, to exist in a place that can be flooded in one night.

The heavy emotion, combined with the gorgeous visuals and wonderful acting combine to make a film that will stick with you for a long while.

Challenge Day: 47
Challenge Time: 2 days, 5 hours, 15 minutes
Challenge Film Total: 30