Product Details

• Released on: 2006-07-25
• Rating: Unrated
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Formats: NTSC, Import
• Original language: English
• Dimensions: 1.00 pounds
• Running time: 93 minutes

Review
The non-anthology output of Amicus Productions tended to be hit-and-miss, but The Beast Must Die is an interesting if lightweight horror-mystery hybrid from the studio. The script derives its inspiration from The Most Dangerous Game, Ten Little Indians, and any number of werewolf films to create its own offbeat hybrid of thrills and chills. It is sometimes a bit too reliant on talk over action, but the amusing, often dishy dialogue helps (the story also boasts an endearingly kitschy "werewolf break" gimmick that is right out of the William Castle playbook). Director Paul Annett's work isn't quite stylish enough to capitalize on the film's offbeat mix of genres, but he unfurls the storyline at a steady clip and makes great use of a stellar cast. Said cast is probably the film's biggest hook; Calvin Lockhart delivers an engagingly hammy performance as the film's master hunter, while Peter Cushing lends a subtle but charismatic presence as the story's resident scientist, and Tom Chadbon steals a few scenes as the wiliest of the guests. Charles Gray, Anton Diffring, and Marlene Clark are given less to do, but all do solid work and their presence is likely to up the interest level for B-movie fans. In short, The Beast Must Die is modest but entertaining stuff. It might be a little too old-fashioned for younger viewers, but veteran horror fans are likely to be amused. ~ Donald Guarisco, All Movie Guide

On the DVD
Commentary by director Paul Annett
Theatrical trailers
Still gallery
Cast and crew biographies
Liner notes
Paul Annett's tribute to Peter Cushing
"Directing 'The Beast!'" featurette

Synopsis
In this little horror film, a wealthy sportsman (Calvin Lockhart) invites a house full of guests to a big-game hunt that he's devised. He's sure that one of the guests is a werewolf, and he intends to stalk it, find it, and kill it. As a film viewer, you are alerted at the outset that a mystery awaits and that clues will be unveiled that can point to the identity of the werewolf. In fact, near the conclusion, the film has inserted a 30-second interlude during which you must decide, once and for all, who the hunted beast is. This film is based upon a story by James Blish titled There Shall Be No Darkness. ~ All Movie Guide

Customer Reviews

agatha christie wit a werewolf thrown in
THE ROUGH OUTLINE OF THE PLOT IS WHERE A RICH SPORTSMAN INVITES SOME GUESTS WHO ARE ALL UNDER SUSPICION OF BEING A WEREWOLF. A JACKPOT GAMEPRIZE WHO THE SPORTSMAN IS DETERMINED TO CATCH.
AS A KID I FOUND THE FILM SPOOKY BUT RECENTLY ALSO FOUND THE FILM ENJOYABLE FOR DIFFERENT REASONS.ALTHOUGH ITS IS A BIT CHEESY I FOUND IT THOROUGHLY ENTERTAINING.THE GROOVY 70S MUSIC AND CHESSY ACTING AMUSED ME.ALSO THERE ARE SPECIFIC SCENES THAT STILL FREAK ME OUT A LITLLE: THE WOLFFACE AT THE INTRO AND THE SCENE WHERE THE RICH HUNTER(CALVIN LOCKHART) IS TRACKING DOWN HIS QUARRY AND THE WEREWOLF JUMPS THROUGH THE SUNROOF AND KILLS HIS ASSISTANT. AS ENTERTAINMENT GOES THE HIGHLIGHTS WERE THE FAMOUS "WEREWOLF BREAK" AND THE HUNTER TOM NEWCLIFFE SHOOTING AWAY AT WHAT LOOKED TO BE A POOR HARMLEES ALSATION FROM DINKY CHOPPER. FOR EASY SIMPLE ENTERTAINMENT I WOULD RATE THIS FILM HIGHLY PROVIDING ITS NOT TO PRICY.

A laugher from start to finish
If you are looking for a movie to catagorize the poor films of the 70s, here it is. A rediculous plot and poor acting go right with hilarious special affects, including the dog falling through the sun roof and the dude being electracuted by a chain-link fence. It was worth it for me, because me and my friends needed to rent 1 more movie to get a discount, and the comical title and our lack of time forced us to hurridly pick this turkey. Plus it was fun to rip on everything in a MST3K-style manor with my buddies that night, but certainly dont spend 25 bucks on this disasterpiece.

Forgotten gem!
I first discovered this movie about 15 years ago when it ran on a rainy Saturday afternoon throwaway slot. This isn't a great movie, but it's a great potboiler, where even if you know how it's going to end, you like watching the characters unravel throughout the story. Camp at its best.

You don't see movies like this anymore, probably because they don't use self-conscious ironic detachment. The (over)acting must be good enough that the players actually inhabit their roles. Play it straight and it's unwatchable. The effects aren't so special, so it's just as well that the action is implicit rather than graphic.

Everything about the film is dated--there's no mistaking the costumes or the music for any era other than the mid 70's. For that matter, the voiceover, the ticking clock and the freeze-frame shots of the characters probably looked dated even when the movie was new. But that's not necessarily a bad thing. Later the horror film evolved into the mindless slasher film in the late-70's-early 80's, where the killer was only a setpiece, and then into the 90's, where the ironic, self-aware Scream type picture cannibalized the former genre. So hungry were moviegoers for subtle, sincere horror that they drooled over Blair Witch. It was a valiant effort, the spookfest had all been done better, when films relied on pacing, acting and camera angle to scare the audience instead of gore.

It's surprising enough that this film merited a DVD release at all and I was so thankful to find it that I didn't even care about the lack of outtakes and extra comments. The next rainy Saturday afternoon I'm watching this again.