The Beast Within (1982)

35% of users liked it
(1,456 ratings)

Tom Burman's innovative prosthetic special effects (used to greater effect in later horror films) are the saving grace of The Beast Within. The premise concerns a couple honeymooning in Mississippi. Caroline (Bibi Besch) is brutally raped by a hairy, sub-human monster and gives birth to a child… More Tom Burman's innovative prosthetic special effects (used to greater effect in later horror films) are the saving grace of The Beast Within. The premise concerns a couple honeymooning in Mississippi. Caroline (Bibi Besch) is brutally raped by a hairy, sub-human monster and gives birth to a child named Michael (Paul Clemens), who appears normal until he hits his teens. At 17, Michael begins to feel strange, and his parents take him back to Mississippi to find out if his problems are related to Caroline's long-ago rape. Once in Mississippi, Michael transforms into a ravenous insect-like creature that roams the countryside, disemboweling innocent victims and feasting on their torsos. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 30 min.
Directed By: Philippe Mora
Written By: Tom Holland, Edward Levy
Genres: Horror

In Theaters: Feb 12, 1982 Wide
On DVD: Aug 28, 2001
Studio: MGM Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
It's a frightfully silly and insignificant horror film, whose only virtue is in the makeup.
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com
Gruesome gore is the sole highlight.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Featured Audience Ratings

Cory T

There is something perversely horrifying about a foreign entity manipulating you from beyond your control, but 'The Beast Within' is a rancid, leisurely paced inner-demon flick that cannot be taken solemnly due to the flaccid performance from Paul Clemens who only appears… More
There is something perversely horrifying about a foreign entity manipulating you from beyond your control, but 'The Beast Within' is a rancid, leisurely paced inner-demon flick that cannot be taken solemnly due to the flaccid performance from Paul Clemens who only appears clammy and disoriented rather than terrified. Add to that, the asinine cicada sound F/X whenever Michael is stimulated are cheesy and cacophonous. The one shining contribution is the pulsating transformation scene in which Michael's skin inflates, peels off and contorts in inexplicably grotesque ways. At least Ronny Cox adds some urbane class to this otherwise strictly gorehound fare.
Bruce B

This one was from MGM Midnight Movies Double Feature, other Movie is The Bat People. The Seast Within was a excellent flix, but only worth 3 1/2 stars. It was better the expected and had a whole cast of people that normally play weird people in oter movies, it was a good gathering.… More
This one was from MGM Midnight Movies Double Feature, other Movie is The Bat People. The Seast Within was a excellent flix, but only worth 3 1/2 stars. It was better the expected and had a whole cast of people that normally play weird people in oter movies, it was a good gathering. Movie was going along fine till the beast face swelled up so bad it looked like something out of a kids flick. If they just kept is face the same as it was in mid movie it wouldl have been graet ad make up for that face was incredable. Worth Buying, Yea I guess as long as you get two movies for the price of one.
Dr Blood

Cheap looking but nicely gory in places. It's still a terrible movie with an incoherent plot and a transformation scene that takes far too long and ends up being on the wrong side of silly. I thought it was going to be a werewolf movie but it isn't even though it does borrow… More
Cheap looking but nicely gory in places. It's still a terrible movie with an incoherent plot and a transformation scene that takes far too long and ends up being on the wrong side of silly. I thought it was going to be a werewolf movie but it isn't even though it does borrow heavily from the genre. The bladder effects used for the transformation are nicely done for the time but are really dated now.