‘Animals’ Review: Ben Affleck Returns to the Director’s Chair for a Nasty, Compulsive Kidnapping Thriller

Ben Affleck directs and stars alongside Kerry Washington in Netflix’s new kidnapping thriller Animals. Unfortunately, the star-studded movie is a shocking misfire.

It’s for the best that “Animals,” actor Ben Affleck’s sixth outing behind the camera, is being released directly to Netflix — not that this slick, pacy serving of all-star pulp couldn’t or wouldn’t hold one’s attention in the multiplex. But ever since Affleck’s rousing,…