Rating summary
| Movie |  | 2.5 |
| Video |  | 4.0 |
| Audio | | 4.0 |
| Extras | | 2.5 |
| Overall |  | 3.0 |
The Beast Within Blu-ray Movie Review
Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman December 17, 2013
Rosemary's Baby famously left it
up to the audience to imagine what would happen to the spawn of Satan (though author Ira Levin did revisit that
idea years later in his sequel to the original novel). The Beast Within may not deal with the union of a human
woman with something as “exotic” as the Devil, but the idea is still the same: what might happen to the offspring of an
unholy mating between a monster and a young female? The film starts with a horrifying rape (a rather graphic one for a
1982 film) where we’re able to see—if only in bits and pieces—that whatever is attacking Caroline MacCleary (Bibi Besch) is
clearly not human. The film then segues forward seventeen years where Caroline’s son Michael (Paul Clemens) has begun
exhibiting a number of strange and inexplicable symptoms, so Caroline and her husband Eli (Ronny Cox) set out to figure
out what happened all those years ago, since they’re unaware that Caroline’s attacker was anything other than a run of
the mill madman.
The Beast Within is an interesting mélange that combines elements of Southern Gothic horror, a traditional monster
movie, and more introspective psychological elements. Michael’s predicament spills out in two parallel paths, one physical
and one mental, as he seemingly becomes possessed by a malevolent spirit, but who also undergoes a rather slimy and
disgusting physical transformation in the final half hour or so of the film. Tom Holland wrote the screenplay, and he none
too subtly morphs the awkwardness of puberty into something decidedly more sinister. The plot is resolutely ridiculous,
but the film has a few real chills to offer along the way.
The Beast Within Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality
The Beast Within is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Scream Factory, an imprint of Shout! Factory, with an AVC
encoded 1080p transfer in 2.35:1. This is another really nice looking cult item from Shout!, one whose elements are in really
great condition, with virtually no damage of any note to mention. Colors are accurate looking and nicely saturated, and fine
detail is quite commendable (a little too commendable some may be saying during the transformation scenes toward
the end of the film). Contrast and black levels are very strong and consistent. The film isn't razor sharp by any stretch of
the imagination, but it's a solid looking transfer that accurately recreates the look of the original film in a very organic way.
The Beast Within Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality
The Beast Within's lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track is nicely robust, with very good fidelity offering dialogue,
effects and the great Les Baxter's score (one of his last) cleanly and clearly, with no damage or other issues to report.
The Beast Within Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras
- Theatrical Trailer (1080i; 1:28)
- Radio Spots (1:02)
- Audio Commentary with Director Philippe Mora and Actor Paul Clemens
- Audio Commentary with Screenwriter Tom Holland
The Beast Within Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation
Have you ever wanted to kill your teenager? The Beast Within takes that familiar parental trope and shifts it into a
manic horror outing that is both silly and scary in about equal measure. Horror fans will probably find enough here to merit
a purchase, and Shout! once again offers a solid technical package along with some appealing supplements.
