THE
BEAST MUST DIE! (1974)Director: Paul Annett
Image Entertainment
THE
BEAST MUST DIE! (1974)England's Amicus films was still going strong well into the 70s--long after the sudden fall of Hammer--even though their novel projects ultimately succumbed to competing big budget fantasy from Hollywood. This is one of Britain's few werewolf films, and rather than churning out another traditional period piece, the producers deliver a modern-day mix of Agatha Christie and "Most Dangerous Game" antics surrounded by James Bond gadgetry and a hero as fashionable and daring as Shaft, complete with dated "wah-wah" music.
Calvin Lockhart (COTTON COMES TO HARLEM) is Tom Newcliffe, a wealthy sportsman who invites some friends to his well-guarded, enormous estate. He believes that one of the guests is a werewolf, and he intends on hunting and killing the guilty party. His property is heavily monitored by Pavel (Anton Diffring) and his elaborate closed-circuit television set-up. When the werewolf appears on screen, he's played by a large dog made up to look like a black, bushy beast on all fours. During the last act of the film, there's a "Werewolf Break," were the viewers are given 30 seconds to deduct which guest is a lycanthrope.
THE BEAST MUST DIE is an unconventional werewolf movie that starts off tediously, but becomes more interesting to watch by the second half. Despite the awkward William Castle-style gimmick and a mystery that will quickly be solved by process of elimination, there's still some enjoyment to be had. Calvin Lockhart is so hammy that he comes off like a beefier George Jefferson with a Harry Belafonte voice! Peter Cushing (who else?) plays a heavy-accented, chain-smoking doctor who knows more facts about werewolves than you can shake a bone at, and Charles Gray (THE DEVIL RIDES OUT) doesn't get to do much but play Chess and complain. Marlene Clark--hot of the heels of films like NIGHT OF THE COBRA WOMAN and GANJA AND HESS--is Lockhart's wife.
THE BEAST MUST DIE has been available on VHS through many labels in this country (one under the ridiculous video title, BLACK WEREWOLF) and on laserdisc from Image. All of these versions were full screen, and worst of all, they were all edited TV prints. Image's new DVD (part of their ongoing "EuroShock Collection") is finally uncut, restoring some rather grotesque aftermaths of the wolf's attacks. For the first time, it's widescreen (1.66.1), and all in all, the transfer looks very nice with sharp contrasts and agreeable, vibrant colors. There is minimal wear and tear on the print source, and the mono sound is good despite the occasional pops and hiss. You can gladly toss away your old Prism or Nostalgia Merchant tapes, as this DVD is a breath of fresh air for a title that never looked that good until now.
There are no extras on the disc, and I really wish they could've tossed the commonly seen trailer in. The packaging wrongly lists the film as being a 1972 release, but it came out through Cinerama in 1974. (George R. Reis)