Ben Affleck brings Los Angeles politics, a family in crisis, and a strong Mexican connection together in Animals, his new Netflix thriller.

Dulce Osuna sat down with Luis Gerardo Méndez and Adriana Paz, who portray Ramón and Cecilia, to discuss working with Affleck, his affection for Mexico, and the collaborative approach that shaped the film.

From the beginning, Affleck wanted the story’s Mexican characters and Spanish-language dialogue to feel authentic. Méndez recalled the filmmaker encouraging both actors to speak up whenever something felt unnatural, whether it was a line of dialogue or a cultural detail.

That openness eventually turned Méndez into Affleck’s unofficial Spanish coach on set, helping with pronunciation and dialogue whenever needed. While praising the filmmaker’s command of the language, Méndez joked that his Spanish sometimes sounds like something straight out of a 1990s telenovela.

Paz also highlighted Affleck’s longtime affection for Mexico, which dates back to his experiences working in the country when he was younger. “Deep down in his heart, he wants to be Mexican,” Paz joked.

Beyond the language lessons, Méndez saw the production as an opportunity to learn from Affleck as a filmmaker. With Affleck directing, producing, and starring in Animals, the actor asked if he could shadow him between scenes to observe how he balanced those responsibilities.

Paz was equally impressed by Affleck’s approach behind the camera. She described a calm, respectful environment in which the director never needed to raise his voice, noting that many crew members have worked with him for years. For Paz, that loyalty reflected the trust and collaborative atmosphere Affleck creates on set.

Preparation was another important part of the process. Before filming began, the cast spent two weeks rehearsing the entire movie in chronological order at the house where much of the story would unfold. Méndez compared the experience to rehearsing a stage play, while Paz explained that members of the production team attended the sessions, observing and taking notes to prepare for filming.

The conversation also touched on the film’s use of Spanish and how it reflects the multicultural reality of Los Angeles. Osuna pointed out that Latino actors have traditionally been expected to learn English to work in Hollywood, while Animals features English-speaking performers making an effort to communicate in Spanish.

Paz revealed that co-star Kerry Washington also speaks Spanish, something that pleasantly surprised her during production. “Hollywood is finally catching on, it seems,” Osuna observed.

Directed by Affleck, Animals follows Los Angeles mayoral candidate Mark Kimball and his wife, Abigail, after their son is kidnapped. As they race to secure the ransom, they find themselves caught in a web of deception, confronting difficult choices and buried secrets that threaten to unravel their lives.

Animals arrives in select theaters and on Netflix October 9, 2026.