The Beast Within is a 1982 American supernatural horror film directed by Philippe Mora (Howling II and Howling III).
The bladder transformation effects were created by Tom Burman (Cat People) and the film’s bombastic score was composed by Les Baxter (The Dunwich Horror; The Raven; House of Usher; et al).
The movie stars Ronny Cox, Bibi Besch, Paul Clemens, L. Q. Jones, Don Gordon, R. G. Armstrong, Katherine Moffat, and Meshach Taylor.
The film is a very loose adaptation of Edward Levy’s 1981 novel of the same name. The screenplay was written by Tom Holland (Scream for Help) and an uncredited Danilo Bach; it was Holland’s first film script.
Plot:
Whilst on their way home two newlyweds get into a car accident. The husband leaves to get help and his wife is set upon and impregnated by a bizarre swamp creature.
Seventeen years later, with their son dying, the couple heads back to the scene of the crime to try and find out more about his biological ‘father’ and thus begin to rake up the town’s dark past. Pretty soon people begin to be killed off…
Review:
With an overwrought score by Les Baxter that sounds like something he might’ve done two decades earlier, a ludicrous and incomprehensible plot (not helped by heavy edits to the original screenplay) that eventually sets the monster up, laughably, as a were-cicada through some heavy-handed metaphor, utterly disinterested direction by Philippe Mora and some terrible acting, The Beast Within is the sort of film that only the most desperate of ’80s horror fanboys could try to retool as a forgotten classic.
David Flint, MOVIES & MANIA
Other reviews:
” … especially striking are the effective evocations of the swampland, the atmosphere of the tiny Southern town, the uniformly excellent acting (including cameos from stuck stalwarts as R.G. Armstrong and L.Q. Jones), Les Baxter’s score and the dazzling special effects: Clemens’ climactic transformation into a giant, flesh-eating insect is really something to behold.” Phil Hardy (editor), The Aurum Film Encyclopedia: Horror
” …you get a ridiculous amount of grizzled machismo in the supporting cast courtesy of tough guys Armstrong, Jones, and Don Gordon, while lounge music and AIP soundtrack stalwart Les Baxter contributes a charming creature feature music score that accentuates the ’50s B-movie feel throughout. The film is never particularly frightening…” Mondo Digital
“While this film is grade A camp, through and through, it still has some charm to it. The gore is pretty sparse and the acting is far below acceptable with most of the actors chewing as much scenery as they can get their teeth around, with Ronny Cox being an exception. Where this movie flexes its muscle is in its story and atmosphere.” Movie Scum
New Audio Commentary by director Philippe Mora and actor Paul Clemens
New Audio Commentary by writer Tom Holland
Theatrical Trailer
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“An effective and impressive cast of character actors portray the towns eccentric and peculiar individuals, many of whom are hiding secrets they would prefer remain buried. An eerie and haunting score by Les Baxter helps to elevate the film’s tension, accompanied by an impressive sounds design that incorporates many of the sounds found naturally in the south, such as the screeching of cicadas.” DVD Drive-In
“Especially good is Kitty Ruth Moffat who, after bringing a refreshingly enthusiastic naivete to the love story here, seems sadly to have vanished from cinema screens altogether. The effects are top-notch, although the final transformation effect comes out looking like a preposterous crossbreed between the Swamp Thing and Monty Python’s Mr Creosote.” Moria
” …as a film evocative of its era, The Beast Within is deserving of far more plaudits than have ever been lavished upon it. It’s a creature feature, plain and simple, a good old-fashioned rollick through the misty bayous of Mississippi with a lot of heart and some genuinely effective chills.” Rivers of Grue
“There are some good gore effects here, some fun creature makeup and some nice foggy location photography that helps to build some atmosphere. It’s not a movie that sets up to reinvent the wheel, nor does it need to be – this is just a solid, well-made, well-acted monster movie that hits all the right notes and which is completely entertaining.” Rock! Shock! Pop!
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“The FX themselves are impressive, but are misplaced, and don’t serve the purpose of the already-overworked script. Meanwhile, the director’s use of extreme close-ups grows increasingly annoying. Still, the murders are fast and furious – not to mention plentiful – and the buckets of grue will keep your interest as things meander about.” The Terror Trap
” …it feels pretty “potboiler”-ish […] feels half-assed, and the entire thing feels a bit underwhelming. Overall this isn’t that bad really and there’s enough bloodshed and okay effects (although the final transformation looks rubbery and dated despite the fairly gross “back split” moment) to make it bearable viewing.” The Video Graveyard
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