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14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
As an aficionado of silent films, it's amazing the impact that a restored print can have on the viewing experience. The same is true of regular movies as well, including a low budget effort like this one. Throw in the fact that this was the debut feature of the tragically short lived filmmaker Michael Reeves (who would go on to make the legendary WITCHFINDER GENERAL with Vincent Price and like Heath Ledger would die of an accidental prescription drug overdose in his 20s) and you have something really special.
Shot in Italy on a budget of around 17,000 pounds and released in 1966 as THE SHE BEAST in America (REVENGE OF THE BLOOD BEAST in England) this film clearly prefigures WITCHFINDER GENERAL in some of its scenes and even in some of its camera shots. Compared to the old beat up 16mm prints that were available up to now, this 35mm transfer is a revelation and shows that Reeves had an extraordinary cinematic eye for composing the look of his films. Very few directors could have gotten so much out of so little as he does here.
Barbara Steele was available for one day and is little more than a guest star but she helped to sell the picture. Ian Ogilvy in his first film is all he needs to be while John Karlsen and Mel Welles add necessary spice to the proceedings. Watching this reminded me again of what was lost when the American drive-ins disappeared. Today there is no low budget training ground for young directors where their works can be seen by a large number of people. A movie like this would now go straight to DVD and into rental and bargain bin oblivion.
This Dark Sky DVD release is everything a cult film lover could wish for.... Read more ›
Shot in Italy on a budget of around 17,000 pounds and released in 1966 as THE SHE BEAST in America (REVENGE OF THE BLOOD BEAST in England) this film clearly prefigures WITCHFINDER GENERAL in some of its scenes and even in some of its camera shots. Compared to the old beat up 16mm prints that were available up to now, this 35mm transfer is a revelation and shows that Reeves had an extraordinary cinematic eye for composing the look of his films. Very few directors could have gotten so much out of so little as he does here.
Barbara Steele was available for one day and is little more than a guest star but she helped to sell the picture. Ian Ogilvy in his first film is all he needs to be while John Karlsen and Mel Welles add necessary spice to the proceedings. Watching this reminded me again of what was lost when the American drive-ins disappeared. Today there is no low budget training ground for young directors where their works can be seen by a large number of people. A movie like this would now go straight to DVD and into rental and bargain bin oblivion.
This Dark Sky DVD release is everything a cult film lover could wish for.... Read more ›
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By Simon Bugler
Format:DVD
Barbara Steele stars in this 1966 euro-horror although she's only in the movie for about 20 mins of the 80 min running time-she and husband Ian Ogilvy are travelling through modern day Transylvania where they meet the great grandson of Professor Van Helsing who is attempting to catch an 18th Century witch who has been brought back to life- the witch is hideous and if you like these euro-horrors you will enjoy it- pretty entertaining and an exceptional print (this movie has been around for years in almost unwatchable copies-this Dark Sky region 1 version is the best you will ever see)
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By R. Curzon
Format:DVD
Michael Reeves's (1944-69) seminal first film finally gets the proper treatment. For man years (since it was made in 1965) the original Techniscope/Cromoscope negative has languished in a storage vault in Italy with a massive lab bill to pay, and as a result most versions available on video and DVD formats over the years have been culled from terrible panned-and-scanned prints.
This Dark Sky DVD is the full widescreen version, presented in the full ratio of 2.35:1, and is actually in pretty good condition considering the film's ultra-low budget and age. I don't know whether this has been taken from an archival print, a dupe negative or from the original negative, but it is a fantastic presentation. There is also a great commentary with stars Ian Ogilvy and Barbara Steele and producer Paul Maslansky as icing on the cake. Highly recomended.
This Dark Sky DVD is the full widescreen version, presented in the full ratio of 2.35:1, and is actually in pretty good condition considering the film's ultra-low budget and age. I don't know whether this has been taken from an archival print, a dupe negative or from the original negative, but it is a fantastic presentation. There is also a great commentary with stars Ian Ogilvy and Barbara Steele and producer Paul Maslansky as icing on the cake. Highly recomended.
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
This film is most likely to be appreciated by admirers of director Michael Reeves, whose first film this was. He went on to make the superior The Sorcerers and then his brilliant, gruelling masterpiece Witchfinder General. His creative growth as a director between these three movies was incredible, and had he not sadly died after completing Witchfinder General, it's generally considered that he would have gone on to be one of the finest directors in Britain.
That's the perspective in which you need to see She Beast - the first effort of a budding genius who was learning his craft. It's not a great movie, but essential for completists.
That's the perspective in which you need to see She Beast - the first effort of a budding genius who was learning his craft. It's not a great movie, but essential for completists.
Format:DVD
Possibly not as good as Nightmare Castle or Castle of Blood, but still entertaining in a cheesy and humourous way. Sleazy hotel keeper and all. The witch's appearance is original in any case.
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Just finished watching this and have to say I found it to be utter rubbish. I don't know what I was expecting, just another low budget horror with the wonderful Barbera Steele. But she looked quite bored and probably embarassed to be in such tripe.
There were a couple of good moments I suppose and it didn't cost much but overall it was crap. I usually like no-budget trash and I'm a big fan of Ed Wood's movies but this had little to entertain. It had a "car chase" the most boring one ever and some keystone cops style attempts at humour that didn't come off.
Dont buy it expecting too much, that's all I'm saying. If you have to have it, get the cheapest copy available. If you want to see a great Barbera Steele film go for "The Mask of Satan", it really delivers.Black Sunday / The Mask Of Satan [1968] [DVD]
There were a couple of good moments I suppose and it didn't cost much but overall it was crap. I usually like no-budget trash and I'm a big fan of Ed Wood's movies but this had little to entertain. It had a "car chase" the most boring one ever and some keystone cops style attempts at humour that didn't come off.
Dont buy it expecting too much, that's all I'm saying. If you have to have it, get the cheapest copy available. If you want to see a great Barbera Steele film go for "The Mask of Satan", it really delivers.Black Sunday / The Mask Of Satan [1968] [DVD]
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