The Beast Of Trinity Texas is a bit of a misnomer of a title. Yes, there is a large animal or creature that is maiming and killing people, but that is window dressing. The main thrust of this 2-hour, 6-minute film is the dramatic interplay among its characters, and there are many of them. Of course, there’s the potential reconciliation between father and daughter as they work this case together. But there’s also the dynamic between Sheriff Ridge and his deputy, Miles (Daryl Jones). At home, Miles is getting an earful from his wife, as he is always away on duty, missing his kid’s baseball games and whatnot. In a very telling scene, Miles decks Ridge. The aftermath of that moment is tender and cements the two’s bond in a humanistic way. Then there’s the way the well-meaning sheriff deals with the protesting veterans and the contractors who just want to do their job. In a mystery-based creature feature, the film highlights that empathy, listening, and treating people with respect are the keys to winning at life.
But at the end of the day, the story is about a rampaging beast of some kind. So, how is the monster action? Well, often only the aftermath is shown, but Weaver builds the tension very well. The smash cut from Ridge to the messed-up campground at the beginning is shocking. When Miles looks into an older lady’s complaints of something in her backyard and clawing at her house, a very eerie feeling creeps in. In the last 30 or so minutes, the creature is featured more, and it is a lot of fun. It helps that the filmmaker opted for a practical suit to bring the monster to life. This gives it a presence that CGI, no matter how good, cannot create, allowing the audience to fully believe in its existence.
“…highlights how empathy, listening, and treating people with respect are the ways to win at life.”
Helping to ground the world of The Beasr Of Trinity Texas is the acting. Despite everything on his plate, Weaver turns in a rock-solid performance. The character can quip but remains serious; he expects the best from everyone around him, including himself. It is a tricky role, especially because of the complex arc Ridge undergoes, but Weaver pulls it off admirably. Jones is just as good, going from stern to fun with ease. Camp is instantly relatable, breathing life into the estrangement between her role and her on-screen father. While a few of the minor parts are iffy at best, all the major players deliver well.
The Beast Of Trinity Texas may disappoint viewers going in expecting something along the lines of Piranha or Anaconda. Those titles focus on the creature attacks and how people survive them. While there are some thrills and eerie moments here, Weaver’s debut is a drama through and through. Should any audience member accept this, they will be treated to an absorbing story populated with realistic characters.
The Beast of Trinity Texas can be streamed on Tubi TV.
"…the filmmaker opted for a practical suit to bring the monster to life."
