By Faith Luevanos | Special to the NB Indy
Last month, the Newport Beach Film Festival closed out its 2026 edition with the drama “Behemoth!” which opens in local theaters December 4.
Directed by Tony Gilroy, the film stars Pedro Pascal as Alex Serian, a lifelong gifted classical cellist whose relationship with music is as complex as his personal life. Following his return to Los Angeles to compose and record film scores, audiences are taken on a rollercoaster through his world, where love, family, and music intertwine in unexpected ways.
As he reflects on his past and is forced to confront it, Alex clings to the one place where he feels he can excel: his performances. As his personal world crumbles around him, he’s left with two choices: face his problems or run from them.
Gilroy assembles a remarkable cast, with Pascal, Will Arnett, and Olivia Wilde each bringing a one-of-a-kind character to the screen. Every performance adds a layer of depth and authenticity to the film’s emotional premise. It’s no secret that the film is full of incredible actors, but it’s the cast’s ability to breathe life into these deeply complex characters that makes “Behemoth!” so compelling.
The cast’s performances are further enhanced by the incredible team of composers Gilroy brought in to score the film. Nine world-renowned composers told their own stories through their incredible compositions, weaving an intricate web that served as the backdrop as the film cut back and forth between the past and the present.
The beauty of the film is its seamless blending of the music Alex plays and the score that underpins it. These orchestral transitions offer a supporting hand that propels the film forward cohesively while still easily displaying flashbacks that fall back into the present day.
I was truly blown away by the storytelling, visuals, and music that bring “Behemoth!” to life. The film keeps audiences on the edge of their seats, constantly wondering what could possibly happen to Alex next, and, sure enough, it delivers more than enough emotional depth to sustain that sense of anticipation.
