beastmustdie

AC/V 1973 92m Eng N/A

CAST: Calvin Lockhart, Peter Cushing, Marlene Clark, Anton Differing, Charles Gray, Ciaran Madden, Tom Chadbon & Michael Gambon

CREDITS: Director: Paul Annett; Screenwriter: Michael Winder, based upon a story by James Blish; Producers: Robert H. Greenberg/Max J. Rosenberg/Milton J. Subotsky; Director Of Photography: Jack Hildyard; Production Designer: John Stoll; Editor: Peter Tanner; Music: Douglas Gamely

THE SYNOPSIS

Tom Newcliffe (Lockhart) is a wealthy business tycoon who lives on a rambling estate in the English countryside. A big-game hunter, he searches for the deadliest prey: a werewolf. Among his invited guests is such a creature. But who?

Could it be German scientist Dr. Lundgren (Cushing)? Perhaps it is composer Jan Jarmokowski (Gambon) or his lovely girlfriend Davina Gilmore (Madden). How about English gentleman Arthur Bennington (Gray) or English socialite Paul Foote (Chadbon). It couldn’t be his own wife, Caroline (Clark), could it?

Basically holding them all hostage on the estate for 3 days and nights (full moons, by the way), tom intends to unmask the creature and kill it. However, the creature emerges and proves to be a cunning foe. First, it kills Tom’s calculating security chief, Pavel (Diffring) and then disappears.

As the hours tick by, Tom becomes more and more obsessed in finding out the creature’s human identity. More people are killed by the werewolf until the creature is finally destroyed. But at what cost to Tom Newcliffe?

THE CRITIQUE

THE BEAST MUST DIE is another movie from the genre studio Amicus Productions (run by the late producers Milton J. Subotsky & Max J. Rosenberg)--who occasionally gave British horror leader Hammer Films a run for their money.

It is certainly evident in this little-known 1973 gem, featuring a solid cast, plenty of atmosphere and a werewolf that looks like a dog (OK, OK, OK...it is a dog, but suspend your disbelief for a while!). THE BEAST MUST DIE was one of those movies that used to play on late night TV but has disappeared into the folds of time...until now (it’s since been resurrected on DVD, so feel free to read my review on it).

Helmed with some flair by veteran British TV director Paul Annett (who’s done plenty of British TV shows and movies), it surely has the trappings of TV or a play--but Annett keeps the camera moving and the pace quickening.

Based on the short story There Shall Be No Darkness by the late American science-fiction author James Blish (a fellow Jerseyite!) and a screenplay written by TV writer Michael Winder (The Saint/The Avengers/Space: 1999), THE BEAST MUST DIE is not terrifically-written; but he does throw in plenty of red-herrings to keep the viewer guessing about the werewolf’s true identity. I feel a little of Agatha Christie’s Ten Little Indians thrown into the mix as well.

At the behest of the producers, Annett was forced to add on a tacky but cute “Werewolf Break” pause that comes soon before the end of the movie--where audiences had 30 seconds to figure out who the werewolf was. It is very much in the spirit of William Castle and his gimmicky movie releases.

Better still is the atmospheric and shadowy lensing, courtesy of the late, veteran, British cinematographer Jack Hildyard (Lion Of The Desert/The Message/1967’s Casino Royale). Also worthy of mention are the handsome production design and resident Amicus composer Douglas Gamely’s snazzy score.

In front of the lens, though Peter Cushing is probably the best known actor in the ensemble, the movie really belongs to theatrically-trained Bahamian actor Calvin Lockhart--who dresses like Shaft and carries enough firepower to bring down a legion of werewolves.

Made during the height of blaxploitation films, the Amicus guys decided to change the Tom Newcliffe character from a wealthy, white aristocrat (supposedly to be played by Count Yorga himself, Robert Quarry) and made over as a wealthy, black business tycoon. Though color should never play favorites in a role, I found Lockhart’s casting to be a nice touch (if a bit odd--for this kind of genre movie, anyway).

Lockhart easily carries the movie with sweaty intensity while Cushing is his usual terrific self--if a bit marginalized. Also in the cast are recognizable British actors Tom Chadbon (as the deliciously fey, Barry Gibb-looking werewolf suspect) and the late, great Charles Gray as the stuffy, sophisticated werewolf suspect (he appeared in 2 James Bond movies: 1967’s You Only Live Twice--as a good guy; and as the villainous Blofeld in 1971’s Diamonds Are Forever--and as the no-necked Criminologist in The Rocky Horror Picture Show).

Also in the cast is the future 2nd Professor Dumbeldore, terrific Irish actor Sir Michael Gambon--here as one of the suspected werewolves. Additionally, the lovely Marlene Clark was formally married to Mr. Colt .45 himself: Billy Dee Williams. Just had to throw that out there!

THE BOTTOM LINE

Dated for sure, but still an entertaining little gem from the world of British horror movies. Werewolves are cool, Peter Cushing and Calvin Lockhart are awesome and this movie has some bite! Enjoy it or I’ll huff & puff and blow your computer screen down!