Ben Affleck is running for mayor of Los Angeles when his carefully managed political life is shattered by an ominous phone call in the first teaser for Netflix’s Animals.
The political thriller stars Affleck as mayoral candidate Mark Kimball and Kerry Washington as his wife, Abigail, whose son is kidnapped just as Mark’s campaign appears to be gathering momentum.
As Entertainment Weekly’s teaser breakdown details, the dialogue-free footage shifts from campaign appearances and family moments to fear, handcuffs, an armed masked figure and increasingly threatening images.
The movie puts Affleck back behind the camera for the first time since 2023’s Air. He also stars, produces and co-wrote the screenplay for the thriller, which arrives in select theaters and on Netflix on October 9th.
The Teaser Lets a Phone Call Do Most of the Work
Netflix’s first look begins with Mark, Abigail and one of Mark’s associates already appearing tense. Instead of explaining the danger through dialogue, the teaser relies on music and the persistent buzz and ring of a phone as the situation surrounding the family becomes increasingly ominous.
The footage then shows Mark campaigning around Los Angeles, greeting potential voters, appearing onstage and sharing more peaceful moments with Abigail and their young son, Denny.
That relative calm disappears after another phone call. Abigail and Adriana Paz’s character are later seen crying, while a sleeping bag lies beside a pair of handcuffs. Gillian Anderson’s character arrives at the Kimball home as the crisis intensifies.
The teaser eventually moves into even darker territory. A figure wearing a furry rabbit mask appears holding a gun near a bridge marked with a skull, and another shot places Mark himself in the crosshairs of a rifle. The Hollywood Reporter also notes that Affleck directed and co-wrote the political thriller.
Affleck and Washington Play Parents Forced Into Dangerous Choices
The central conflict goes beyond finding the missing child. Netflix’s official synopsis says, “When their son is kidnapped, a Los Angeles mayoral candidate and his wife find themselves drawn into a web of deception.”
As Mark and Abigail scramble to raise the ransom, the choices they face threaten to destroy the life they have built. Christopher Woodley plays their son, Denny. Steven Yeun, Gillian Anderson, Adriana Paz, Ray Fisher, Luis Gerardo Méndez and Mark Kassen are also among the cast.
PEOPLE’s first-look report also lists Matt Gerald and Jacob Estrada among the supporting cast. Affleck co-wrote the screenplay with Connor O. McIntyre and Billy Ray.
‘Animals’ Puts Affleck Back Behind the Camera
The movie marks Affleck’s first feature directing project since Air, the 2023 sports drama about Nike’s pursuit of Michael Jordan. His earlier directing credits include Gone Baby Gone, The Town, Live by Night and Argo, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture.
Animals also continues Affleck and Matt Damon’s work through Artists Equity, the studio they founded with Gerry Cardinale. Netflix lists Affleck, Damon and Dani Bernfeld as producers alongside Brad Weston and Collin Creighton of Makeready, which developed the project with Fifth Season. The production was filmed in and around Los Angeles.
Netflix says the filmmakers embraced the city as an integral part of the story. Netflix will release Animals in select theaters and on its streaming service on October 9th.