Sommerleigh Pollonais, Horror Head Writer
Day 7/31: The Beast Within (1982)
Who made it?
Director: Phillips Mora (Communion, Howling II & III)
What’s it about?
A couple are attacked by some sort of creature and the woman is sexually assaulted. Seventeen years later their son Paul begins exhibiting some strange behaviour and by strange we mean murdering folks left and right as he begins to transform into something inhuman.
The year 1981 brought audiences two of the most iconic werewolf movies ever made, namely The Howling and An American Werewolf in London. Both films feature practical effects so outstanding, they hold up to this day. And with their success everyone in the genre wanted a piece of the transforming monster action including screenwriter and eventual director of Child’s Play Tom Holland. Holland adapted The Beast Within which was based on a novel by Edward Levy. While none of that may interest you this is a B-movie worth checking out for just the crazy practical effects alone.
Prior to adding it to this list I honestly could not remember a single thing about this movie’s plot. But what I could and did remember was that crazy transformation sequence that went on FAR LONGER than it should have! Rewatching it I’ll give kudos to the final half hour of the film. It’s the strongest by far and the effects by Thomas Burman are very creative and grotesque in all the ways horror fans appreciate.
Favourite Scene
Michael’s transformation scene goes from chilling to grotesque to absolutely and ridiculously funny. The 1980’s movie Altered States saw the introduction of the air bladder technique pioneered by effects artist Dick Smith. Here it’s taken way too far so instead of the haunting visuals we got in that movie this one has poor Michael’s head blow up like a Macy Day parade float. Bless Burman’s heart you can tell how much he loved the bladder effect, but there comes a point when you have to pull the trigger and it’s a shame the director didn’t seem know when to yell “Cut!”.
Fun Trivia
Along with Joe Dante’s The Howling (1981) this film pioneered the trend of air-bladder special effects makeup. For Michael’s transformation scene small plastic sacks (often condoms or balloons) would be embedded into the layers of makeup and face castings. Later while filming these sacks would be inflated through tubes and it would help to give the appearance of the skin’s distortion.
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Sommerleigh of the House Pollonais. First of Her Name. Sushi Lover, Queen of Horror Movies, Comic Books and Binge-Watching Netflix. Mother of two beautiful black cats named Vader and Kylo. I think eating Popcorn at the movies should be mandatory, PS4 makes the best games ever, and I’ll be talking about movies until the zombie apocalypse comes. Double Tap Baby! Read More