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Walerian Borowczyk's most notorious and controversial film wildly re-works the classic Beauty and the Beast story into a very adult fairy tale, a parody of pornographic tropes and an assault on notions of 'good taste'. Bestial dreams interrupt the venal plans of a French aristocrat attempting to save a crumbling mansion by marrying off his deformed son, Mathurin, to a horny American heiress, Lucy. Yet Mathurin seems more interested in his horses than in his bride-to-be, and when Lucy finds out about the story of his 18th-century ancestor Romilda (Sirpa Lane) copulating with the titular beast it sparks to life one of the most outrageous dream sequences in cinema history. A huge hit in France that was extensively censored and banned elsewhere, The Beast broke new ground in sexual explicitness and remains a truly startling experience even today.

Bonus Materials

• New high definition digital transfer of the uncut 98-minute version
• Uncompressed Mono 2.0 PCM Audio
• Optional English subtitles
• Introduction by film critic Peter Bradshaw
• The Making of The Beast: camera operator Noël Véry provides a commentary on footage shot during the film's production
• Frenzy of Ecstasy, a visual essay on the evolution of Borowczyk's beast and the sequel that never was, Motherhood
• The Profligate Door, a documentary about Borowczyk's sound sculptures featuring curator Maurice Corbet
• Boro Brunch, a reunion meal recorded in February 2014 reuniting members of Borowczyk's crew
• Commercials by Borowczyk: Holy Smoke (1963), The Museum (1964) and Tom Thumb (1966)
• Gunpoint, a documentary short by Peter Graham produced and edited by Borowczyk (11:04)
• Behind Enemy Lines - The Making of Gunpoint (5:16)
• Theatrical trailer
• Reversible sleeve featuring Borowczyk's own original poster design

Sales Points

• Reversible sleeve featuring Borowczyk's own original poster design
• Walerian Borowczyk's most notorious and controversial film
• Brand new special feautres

Press Quotes

the most outrageous erotic fantasy ever committed to film

     —BFI

an erotic black farce hellbent on trampling every pretence of good taste

     —Kinoteka

a barbed, funny satire on sex, hypocrisy and repression

     —Electric Sheep Magazine

In a perfect(ly cracked) world, this would belong in the Collector's Series, but it's just so out-there I can only confidently call it Highly Recommended. You lucky ones who straddle that weird line, you need to get this awesome Blu-ray.

     —DVD Talk

Borowczyk has a decidedly unique vision

     —DVD Corner

The Beast is one of the most notorious films by Walerian Borowczyk, which in and of itself is saying something. Technical merits are generally solid and the supplementary package very appealing

     —Blu-ray.com

I recommend The Beast. I mean, I have to. It’s something you won’t forget...This will be one that you talk to your friends about in a whisper, looking around to make sure no one is listening, and that’s a good thing.

     —Film Cultist

I recommend The Beast. I mean, I have to. It’s something you won’t forget...This will be one that you talk to your friends about in a whisper, looking around to make sure no one is listening, and that’s a good thing.

     —Film Cultist

I recommend The Beast. I mean, I have to. It’s something you won’t forget...This will be one that you talk to your friends about in a whisper, looking around to make sure no one is listening, and that’s a good thing.

     —Film Cultist