Culling

Summary

Culling (2021) is a stark, atmospheric thriller built around two parallel survival stories. In one, a young man becomes determined to rescue a cow from being sent to slaughter, turning what might seem like a simple act of compassion into a dangerous confrontation with forces beyond his control. In the other, two boys cross a barren, hostile landscape while trying to escape an unseen threat. Their journey is defined by exhaustion, fear, and the constant uncertainty of what may be pursuing them. The film’s principal characters are its unnamed young rescuer and the two frightened boys, with the cow serving as an especially important presence rather than a mere plot device. Their stories gradually acquire a sense of connection, while the sparse setting and limited information make the world feel alien, threatening, and almost dreamlike. Rather than relying on constant explanation or conventional scares, Culling creates tension through silence, isolation, and the characters’ struggle to understand the danger surrounding them. At its core, the film explores compassion in a brutal environment, asking how far someone might go to protect a vulnerable life. It also considers themes of survival, innocence, human responsibility, and the uneasy relationship between people and animals. The desolate terrain and invisible menace give those ideas a disturbing, allegorical quality, suggesting a world in which cruelty is pervasive even when its source cannot be clearly seen. Culling is therefore less a straightforward creature feature than an unsettling, minimalist meditation on fear, empathy, and the instinct to keep moving when the path ahead offers no safety.