Corporate Animals Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.5

Corporate Animals Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf March 28, 2020

There aren’t many comedies made about cannibalism. It takes a special filmmaking touch to blend unimaginable horror with jokes, and director Patrick Brice (“The Overnight,” “Creep”) gets most of the way there with “Corporate Animals.” While there are a few macabre events in the movie, the screenplay by Sam Bain is more of a workplace comedy, tapping into office irritations and resentments as a team-building exercise turns into a lengthy challenge of survival. “Corporate Animals” might be relatable for some, but it really wants to be silly business for all, and while Bain can’t dream up interesting setbacks for the cast of characters, he scores more often than not, while Brice manages to transform a static setting into a war of quirks, personal histories, and hunger pains.

Lucy (Demi Moore) is the CEO of Incredible Edible Cutlery, with the company attempting to tackle the single-use plastic problem with help from potato-born forks, spoons, and knives. She’s brought her team to the desert to help with office interaction, hiring Brandon (Ed Helms) to help guide the gang into a cave to test their endurance and encourage reliance on others. Instead of taking it easy, Lucy selects the Experienced Path for the spelunking adventure, bringing Jess (Jessica Williams), Derek (Isiah Whitlock Jr.), Freddie (Karan Soni), Billy (Dan Bakkedahl), Aidan (Calum Worthy), Suzy (Nasim Pedrad), May (Jennifer Kim), Ian (Frank Bond), Gloria (Martha Kelly), and Victoria (Wendy Meredith) into an underground cave, hoping the gang will learn from the experience. Unfortunately, an earthquake occurs, with a cave-in killing Brandon and sealing off any potential exits, leaving the employees to deal with a lengthy stay in the dark. While passive-aggressive behaviors begin to turn toxic, hunger becomes a major concern, with Brandon’s body eventually eyed as a potential source of food.

The team-building excursion actually begins above ground in “Corporate Animals,” as Lucy initially challenges her staff to move an enormous concrete ball using their problem-solving skills. Such minimal effort results in Aidan getting hurt, dealing with a leg wound as Lucy rounds up the gang to enter the cave. The film’s opening is the last gasp of fresh air and shot of sunlight for nearly the rest of the movie, and Bain uses the outdoors to deal with some initial antagonisms, with Jess and Freddie competing for a vice president position, trying to suck-up to Lucy and avoid being the company’s “hate sponge,” with both enjoying big plans for the future. Lucy also takes a moment to showcase her recklessness, ignoring Brandon’s warnings as she moves the group down deep into the caves, happy to pick a difficult route to complete an experience nobody particularly wants but her.

The cave-in is a disaster, but “Corporate Animals” uses the catastrophe to inspire laughs, finding a community of people who don’t like one another suddenly trapped in a small, dark space for an indefinite amount of time. Fear is immediate but personal issues emerge quickly, with hunger a priority as Lucy distributes forks to nibble on. It’s not enough, with Brandon soon eyed as a buffet for all, though Suzy has some objections, having recently slept with the adventurer. Bain’s screenplay details individual concerns about the situation, with one character worried about her Lupus, while others bicker about office annoyances and personal behavior. Lucy has problems too, hiding a secret about her business, also trying to get something started with Freddie in the midst of an emergency, exposing their affair. Interplay is strong with this talented cast, and while Bain treats the material like a play, Brice gives it a little cinematic energy, maintaining a snappy pace and doing well with visual gags, including the first sampling of Brandon’s arm.

Corporate Animals Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (2.35:1 aspect ratio) presentation deals with environmental extremes, as the bulk of the viewing experience takes place in the cave, which features diminishing lighting sources. It's a very dark movie at times, but delineation isn't completely lost, preserving frame information with a few slips into solidification. Outdoor adventures with full illumination handle detail well, offering location dimension and facial textures, along with fibrous outfits. Interiors also capture character deterioration and macabre events. Color is most potent with greenery and outfits, and the natural hues of the cave are intact. Skintones are natural. Compression issues are periodic, with a few blasts of banding detected.

Corporate Animals Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA sound mix doesn't go as crazy with surround activity as one might expect from a story set inside of a cave, but atmospherics are evocative, getting a sense of character position and loose rock, while park scenes enjoy a more open air appeal. Dialogue exchanges are distinct, securing argumentative behavior without distortion, and whispered conversations are clear. Scoring is satisfactory, along with soundtrack selections, which offer crisp instrumentation. Low-end comes alive with seismic activity and shifting boulders.

Corporate Animals Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features star/producer Ed Helms, director Patrick Brice, and writer Sam Bain.

• "Cannibalism" (4:47, HD) is a brief overview of the "Corporate Animals" production event, with cast and crew interviews (conducted on-set) working to illuminate the creative process and sell the picture to the masses. The conversation explores the premise and Bain's efforts to create distinct characters for the dark comedy. Cannibalism is debated, including a jokey stretch where a few cast members try to describe what they think human flesh tastes like. Most interesting is the creation of the edible arm, made with vegan ingredients to accommodate Demi Moore's personal nutritional demands.

• "The Cave" (3:51, HD) returns to production participants, who welcome viewers to the cave set used in "Corporate Animals," which was created in six weeks once producers realized using a real cave wasn't going to work. Talk of story needs and an actual tour of working parts of the set are included, showing off breakaway elements. Cinematography needs are assessed as well, with lenser Tarin Anderson detailing her vision for the film and her labor to make the artificial set look real. Exteriors in New Mexico are highlighted, along with actor camaraderie, as time inside the single set brought everyone closer together.

• "Script to Screen" (2:55, HD) examines the initial idea for "Corporate Animals" and the tonal intent of the production, balancing gruesome encounters with moments of silliness.

• A Theatrical Trailer has not been included.

Corporate Animals Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Corporate Animals" does better with weirdness, finding encroaching madness inspiring some hilarious encounters along the way. Aidan begins to lose his mind, believing the ghost of Britney Spears is offering him company, and he's also in charge of lighting, using a "wank band" to utilize kinetic energy, keeping his arm in motion. Freddie finds guidance in the wisdom of Gary Sinise. And Billy and Freddie learn the dangers of guzzling cave water and eating newts in the worst way possible. Physical comedy is appealing, and portioned out well by Brice, who keeps the picture engaging, even when it loses its comedic potential. "Corporate Animals" is minor work, best suited for a casual viewing, but it has some fun ideas, amusingly unhinged personalities, and some enjoyable gross-outs to share, along with a customary pantsing of office politics and employee dysfunction.