Beast Race (Corrida dos Bichos) SXSW Review

Every day, when you turn on the news or scroll through social media, it’s hard not to feel like we’re on the brink of something big—and not in a good way. Movies, of course, have been imagining the end of the world for years, showing us all kinds of scenarios where humanity doesn’t exactly come out on top. We’ve seen natural disasters, alien invasions, wars… and even apes becoming smarter while we lose our edge.

Beast Race drops us into a world that comes after one of those kinds of collapses. Set in a dystopian version of Brazil, survival now depends on something brutal: an animal-themed lottery and race that can mean the difference between life and death.

The concept is simple. Each racer takes on an animal identity—Lion, Bull, Cat—and competes in a four-stage race where five runners are eliminated each round. Win, and you get glory. Lose, and the human collateral you’ve put up is taken away to a place no one returns from.

Running the show is Abu (Rodrigo Santoro), a former racer who now controls the game and pushes it to be as intense and entertaining as possible. When Dalva (Thainá Duarte)’s boyfriend enters the race and puts her up as collateral, her brother Mano (Matheus Abreu) steps in to take his place, determined to keep her safe.

Mano, now racing as “Cat,” used to be a hunter—someone who survived by taking out racers trying to cross his territory. Now he’s thrown into the very system he once preyed on. Guiding him is Nadine (Isis Valverde), who has her own reasons for wanting to win.

What follows feels like The Hunger Games meets parkour, with even more action—and honestly, for me, a lot more fun.

Written by Ernesto Solis, Rodrigo Lages, Marco Abujamra, and Eva Klaver, Beast Race builds a unique and visually striking world that really pulls you into it. The races themselves are easily the highlight—fast, intense, and genuinely exciting. You’ll find yourself rooting for Cat as he fights to survive and save his sister.

What stood out to me most, was the world-building. The film does a great job of establishing the rules of this brutal sport while still giving weight to its characters and the politics behind it. It makes it easy to pick a side—and to care about who wins.

That said, the film isn’t without its flaws. Some of the weaker moments come from the screenplay, especially in scenes that take place outside of the races. But those bumps were pretty minor for me, especially considering how strong everything else is.

The cast works well together, with Santoro standing out a bit—probably because he’s the most recognizable face, especially for U.S. audiences. Still, it’s the races that truly steal the show. Each one feels fresh and unpredictable, with some really impressive set pieces.

I had a great time with Beast Race. It’s part The Hunger Games, part The Running Man, and altogether just a really fun ride.