The head of a failing French family thinks that fate has smiled down on him when the daughter of a wealthy man agrees to be married to his son. The daughter and her aunt then travel out to the French countryside to meet with the family, unaware that a mysterious 'beast' is stalking the vicinity.
Direction
Borowczyk's deliberately transgressive hand puppeteers every frame.
Costume
18th-century aristocratic decay dressed to impress.
Practical Effects
The beast suit: ridiculous, terrifying, unforgettable.
Director
Walerian Borowczyk
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Part of the 'fantastique' tradition, Borowczyk was a Polish animator turned French provocateur who made this after being fired from his own animated feature.
The notorious beast suit was allegedly so uncomfortable that multiple takes were impossible—explaining the dream sequence's deliberate staginess.
FR
