The 2010s were a great decade for franchise films. During these years, the MCU saw its golden age, the Mission: Impossible series released three great outings, and Hollywood produced an avalanche of adaptations of young adult fantasy book series that launched many careers into stardom. Critical reception aside, the Twilight film series stood out for its commercial success, as well as the Hunger Games series. Others like Divergent didn’t fare so well but, at the bottom of the barrel, are those who weren’t even able to kickstart their universe properly.
This was the unfortunate case of Beautiful Creatures. A well-received book series, a smart screenplay, and a stunningly stellar cast weren’t enough to get this franchise off the ground. The Richard LaGravenese film, based on the Caster Chronicles by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl, featured Alice Englert and Alden Ehrenreich in the main roles of Lena and Ethan, two star-crossed lovers with fate literally against them. While the duo was relatively unknown at the time, they were backed up by a legendary cast that included Jeremy Irons and Viola Davis, just to name a few. Sadly, this wasn’t enough, and Beautiful Creatures passed into history as the little film that couldn’t.
Contrary to Other YA Franchises, ‘Beautiful Creatures’ Portrayed a Relatable Teen Romance
Whatever their settings are, most young adult book adaptations of the time feature a couple at the center of the dilemma. More often than not, their chemistry mostly relies on the “opposites attract” trope. On one side, there is Robert Pattinson’s Edward and Kristen Stewart’s Bella as the perfect vampire and damsel in distress. Then there is Jennifer Lawrence’s Katniss and Josh Hutcherson’s Peeta as fearless leader and not-so-fearless former baker, whose relationship is tainted by the circumstances they are forced to live and compete in.
Then there is Ehrenreich’s Ethan and Englert’s Lena. Ethan is a regular South Carolina dude who, thankfully, never falls prey to the retrograde mentality of the majority of his hometown. He’s just trying to survive by defying the system, but still without any greater hopes of achieving something bigger. Lena comes from a family shunned by the whole town due to rumors of their involvement in witchcraft. And while the rumors are true, they’ve always tried to keep to themselves to avoid trouble. Ethan and Lena inevitably meet, and a genuine, passionate romance develops. By showing him there’s more he can achieve in this world, and by letting her know she isn’t the monster she’s been led to believe she will become, they find solace in each other. So, amidst all the rage of the young adult fantasy adaptations, I’d dare to say Beautiful Creatures’ leading couple stands out from the rest.
The Cast of ‘Beautiful Creatures’ Was So Iconic, It Hurt Not Seeing More of It
It seems the upcoming Hunger Games prequel film Sunrise on the Reaping is blowing the film’s budget on their cast. But before that, Beautiful Creatures did it as well. Irons and Davis co-star as Lena’s wizard uncle, Macon, and Ethan’s family friend Amma, respectively. They bring the required gravitas to the film’s main predicament – a prophecy that states Lena will become a dark sorceress if she remains with Ethan. Lena’s extended family is composed of more Hollywood heavy-hitters. Margo Martindale and Eileen Atkins as Aunt Del and Gramma Emmaline go out of their way to protect her from her destiny. All this while Emmy Rossum’s Ridley, Lena’s cousin, is trying to bring her to the dark side. Finally, while never knowing which side he leans toward, the film also benefits from the presence of horror staple Kyle Gallner as Lena’s cousin, Larkin.
Related
Star Wars Icons Daisy Ridley & Alden Ehrenreich Team for Destination Rom-Com ‘The Last Resort’
The new film from Donald Petrie will be set in the Philippines.
Beautiful Creatures also features a pre-Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Rachel Brosnahan, and an up-and-coming Zoey Deutch in smaller but essential roles. Brosnahan appears as one of Lena’s ancestors whose dark prophecy was fulfilled many years ago, while Deutch’s Emily proves that opposites don’t always necessarily attract, as her relationship with Ethan falls apart because they don’t share the same ideals. Last but not least, Thomas Mann and Emma Thompson bring to life Ethan’s best friend, Link, and his horrid mother, Mavis. All in all, Beautiful Creatures’ cast was an ensemble whose dynamic deserved further exploration through its planned sequels.
Alden Ehrenreich and Emma Thompson Are the Standouts of This Ensemble
Sadly, while Beautiful Creatures had promising potential and a great cast, this adaptation wasn’t critically or commercially well-received. The future installments that were planned were ultimately scrapped. But the bright side to this failure is that, in Beautiful Creatures, Ehrenreich found his breakthrough role as a leading man. His ability to portray Ethan’s journey from a numb southerner to a caring man with a love worth fighting for proved he could be both a compelling protagonist and a passionate romantic leading man. The film showcases Ehrenreich’s innate charm, which is a staple of his performances, regardless of the genre he’s cast in.
Whereas Irons and Davis dominate the screen whenever they show up in Beautiful Creatures, it’s Thompson who steals the show. Putting her ample versatility to use, she elevates her participation by portraying the film’s two main antagonists. As Mavis, Thompson represents all the treachery behind the facade of hypocrisy when someone claims to be doing “the Lord’s work.” And through the clever plot device of possession, she also brings to life the evil Sarafine, Lena’s mother. In Sarafine, Thompson embodies a sorceress consumed by dark magic, who is aiming to recruit her daughter to fulfill her dark prophecy. Thompson expertly displays the duality of both characters – a person with extreme morals, and a demon without any. While both sit at opposite ends of the spectrum, her portrayal makes it clear they’re both equally dangerous.
In the end, Beautiful Creatures is one of Hollywood’s many attempts to keep milking the young adult adaptations cow. And though it might be already forgotten by the public, it did gift us Ehrenreich’s launch into stardom. He might have lost this franchise, but he went on to star and give a hilarious performance in Hail, Caesar!, and then bring the legendary Han Solo to life in the criminally underrated Solo: A Star Wars Story. Now, Ehrenreich is one of the main characters of Ironheart alongside Dominique Thorne. His legacy role is rocking the MCU, and we’re just hoping to see more of him in the future.
