The trailer for Netflix’s first original film Beasts of No Nation was released this week.
In the film, the young boy Agu (newcomer Abraham Attah) becomes a child soldier fighting in the civil war of an unnamed African country under the leadership of a ruthless warlord known only as Commandant, played by Golden Globe-winner Idris Elba (The Wire, Luther).
In the heart-pounding first trailer for the film, Commandant’s ragtag African militia launches a successful attack on an incoming convoy.
“Agu,” Commandant calls the young boy, handing him a machete and leading him toward a hostage. “You are going to kill this man.”
Beasts of No Nation is part of Netflix’s ambitious first batch of original films, which include the upcoming Pee-Wee’s Big Holiday, Adam Sandler’s The Ridiculous Six, and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon sequel The Green Legend.
Beasts of No Nation was written and directed by Cary Fukunaga, who directed all eight first-season episodes of the critically-acclaimed HBO series True Detective. The film is based on the 2005 bestselling novel of the same name by Uzodinma Iweala.
Netflix reportedly paid $12 million for worldwide streaming rights to the film back in March, according to Variety. The streaming service is said to be planning an aggressive awards-season Oscar campaign for the film.
Beasts is set to debut at the Venice Film Festival in September.
The film begins streaming on Netflix on October 16, and will also hit select Landmark theaters in major American cities the same day.
Check out the harrowing trailer for the film above.