THE DAY OF THE BEAST (4K UHD Review)
FROM SEVERIN FILMS
Review by Josey, the Sudden Catđș
Among the coolest things about this gig is discovering overlooked gems that somehow escaped my radar, or directors who display a flair worth exploring further. Regarding the 1995 Spanish horror film, The Day of the Beast, both perks apply.
One thing is certain...Iâve never seen a movie quite like this, in any genre, let-alone horror. Director/co-writer Ălex de la Iglesia could have easily taken his premise down a familiar path and would still have a decent film on his hands. He displays a unique visual style thatâs both gritty and surreal. Additionally, heâs a good screenwriter and coaxes better performances from his cast than most films or this type usually get (or deserve).
However, The Day of the Beast also happens to be funny as hell..on purpose. Some of the humor stems from Iglesiaâs sheer audacity, uninhibited by the genreâs unwritten rules or the boundaries of good taste. For the most part, heâs willing to step right up to the line of common decency without really crossing it (though personally, I could have done without the rabbit scene). But in addition to the gonzo violence and pitch-black humor, thereâs a bevy of hilarious dialogue and absurd comedy that sometimes approaches the level of farce (without ever turning stupid). What makes the film such a kick-in-the-ass is how seamlessly Iglesia brings these elements together.
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"Speaking of beasts...ever thought about trading this thing in?" |
Angel manages to enlist the help of dimwitted record store employee Jose (Santiago Segura), a metalhead and self-proclaimed Satanist. Then the two of them break into the home of Professor Coven (Armando De Razza), the popular host of a phony occult TV show, and force him to assist in a ritual that will summon the Devil. That âritualâ is another comic highpoint; since these guys donât have everything ritual requires, they substitute with whatâs on-hand, such as Joseâs supply of LSD instead of hallucinogenic mushrooms. It also turns out Angel must go out and find himself a sacrificial virgin, since Covenâs hot, ditzy girlfriend, Susana (Maria Grazia Cucinotta) decidedly isnât one.
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Mrs. Bubble! |
Fast-moving, ferociously-violent and often hilarious, The Day of the Beast ainât for everybody, but itâs easy to see why it has a fervent cult following. For newcomers like myself, the film is a great discovery and I look forward to checking-out some of Ălex de la Iglesiaâs other work. Severin Films has put together a great home video release that fans will surely get a kick out of. In addition to a decent transfer, the disc is loaded with interesting bonus features, the best being a feature-length documentary.
EXTRA KIBBLES
âHEIRS OF THE BEASTâ - A great feature-length doc, not only about this film, but the emergence of Spanish horror during a time when the genre was largely disregarded.
âANTICHRIST SUPERSTARâ - Interview with director/co-writer Ălex de la Iglesia.
âTHE MAN WHO SAVED THE WORLDâ - Interview with actor Armando de Razza.
âBEAUTY AND THE BEASTâ - Interview with Maria Grazia Cucinotta (a beauty indeed).
âSHOOTING THE BEASTâ - Interview with cinematographer Flavio Martinez Labiano.
SHORT FILM - âMirindas Asesinas,â directed by Ălex de la Iglesia.
TRAILERS (also on the 4K disc)
4K UHD & BLU-RAY COPIES (most of the bonus features are on the Blu-ray only).
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