The Beast Within | |
---|---|
Directed by | Alexander J. Farrell |
Written by | Greer Ellison |
Screenplay by |
|
Based on | The Beast Within by Edward Levy |
Produced by |
|
Starring |
|
Cinematography | Daniel Katz |
Edited by | Matthieu Laclau |
Music by |
|
Production companies | Paradox House, Future Artists Entertainment |
Distributed by |
|
Release date |
|
Running time | 98 minutes [1] |
Country | England |
Language | English |
Box office | $51,860 |
The Beast Within is a 2024 mystery horror-thriller film directed by Alexander J. Farrell, co-written by Greer Ellison, Alexander J. Farrell, and co-produced by Alex Chang, Jack Christian , and Ryan Hamilton. The film stars Kit Harington, Ashleigh Cummings, James Cosmo, and Caoilinn Springall. It was released on 26 July 2024.
After a series of strange events leads her to question her family's isolated life on a fortified compound deep in the English wilds, 10-year-old Willow (Caoilinn Springall) follows her parents on one of their secret late-night treks to the heart of the ancient forest. But upon witnessing her father undergo a terrible transformation, she too becomes ensnared by the dark ancestral secret they've tried so desperately to conceal. [2]
The Beast Within was filmed in Harewood Woods and Castle in West Yorkshire England, chosen for its atmospheric and eerie setting with its Structures dating back to the 14th century. [4] The film's director, Alexander J. Farrell, aimed to create a sense of dread and suspense, using practical effects and minimal CGI to bring the beast to life. The script, written by Greer Ellison, draws inspiration from classic horror films and folklore, blending elements of mystery and psychological terror. [5]
Principal photography for The Beast Within began in Yorkshire, England with the working title "What Remains of Us" in May 2023 and continued over several months. [6]
The Beast Within premiered at the Fantasia Film Festival on 26 July 2024, where it received positive reviews for its suspenseful storytelling and effective use of practical effects. Critics praised the performances of the lead actors, particularly Kit Harington's portrayal of Noah and Caoilinn Springall's role as Willow. [7] [8]
Tyler Nichols of JoBlo.com praised Caoillinn Springall's performance, which is as impressive. [5] Aaron B. Peterson of The Hollywood Outsider gave the film 2/5 stars. [9] Film pundit, John Dotson of The Cosmic Circus described the film as a Gothic Tale of Childhood Trauma. [10]
On Rotten Tomatoes, the website The Beast Within holds an approval rating of 36% based on 39 reviews, with an average rating of 5.60/10. The site's consensus states: "Somewhere inside The Beast Within lies a clever riff on the werewolf genre, but it struggles to claw through a lack of incident and specificity." [11]
The Beast Within earned $51,860 in its opening week, becoming a box office dud. [12]
The film's soundtrack, composed by Jack Halama and Nathan W Klein, features an eerie and haunting score that enhances the film's suspenseful atmosphere. The soundtrack was released on digital streaming platforms and received critical acclaim for its contribution to the film's mood and tone. [13]
Werewolf fiction denotes the portrayal of werewolves and other shapeshifting therianthropes, in the media of literature, drama, film, games and music. Werewolf literature includes folklore, legend, saga, fairy tales, Gothic and horror fiction, fantasy fiction and poetry. Such stories may be supernatural, symbolic or allegorical. A classic cinematic example of the theme is The Wolf Man (1941) which in later films joins with the Frankenstein Monster and Count Dracula as one of the three famous icons of modern day horror. However, werewolf fiction is an exceptionally diverse genre, with ancient folkloric roots and manifold modern re-interpretations.
An American Werewolf in London is a 1981 comedy horror film written and directed by John Landis. An international co-production of the United Kingdom and the United States, the film stars David Naughton, Jenny Agutter, Griffin Dunne and John Woodvine. The title is a cross between An American in Paris and Werewolf of London. The film's plot follows two American backpackers, David and Jack, who are attacked by a werewolf while travelling in England, causing David to become a werewolf under the next full moon.
Silver Bullet is a 1985 American horror film based on the 1983 Stephen King novella Cycle of the Werewolf. It stars Gary Busey, Everett McGill, and Corey Haim, with Megan Follows, Terry O'Quinn, Lawrence Tierney, Bill Smitrovich, Kent Broadhurst, David Hart, and James Gammon in supporting roles. The film is directed by Dan Attias, written by King and produced by Martha De Laurentiis.
The Beast Within is a 1981 horror novel written by American horror novelist Edward Levy. The Beast Within was also made into a movie in 1982.
The Midnight Meat Train is a 2008 American horror film based on Clive Barker's 1984 short story of the same name, which can be found in Volume One of Barker's collection Books of Blood. The film follows a photographer who attempts to track down a serial killer dubbed the "Subway Butcher", and discovers more than he bargained for under the city streets.
Christopher Catesby Harington, known professionally as Kit Harington, is an English actor. He is best known for his role as Jon Snow in the HBO fantasy television series Game of Thrones (2011–2019), for which he received a Golden Globe nomination and two nominations for Primetime Emmy Awards and Critics' Choice Television Awards.
The Boy Who Cried Werewolf is a 2010 Nickelodeon made-for-television comedy horror film starring Victoria Justice, Chase Ellison, Matt Winston, Brooke D'Orsay, Steven Grayhm, and Brooke Shields. The screenplay was written by Art Edler Brown and Josh Nick. It was filmed in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The film aired on Nickelodeon on October 23, 2010.
Animosity is a 2013 horror thriller film written and directed by Brendan Steere. It had its world premiere on May 13, 2013, and stars Tracy Willet and Marcin Paluch as two newlyweds who discover a sinister presence in the woods.
Lake Eerie is a 2016 horror film, directed by Chris Majors, starring Lance Henriksen, Betsy Baker, Marilyn Ghigliotti, Tavares Jamal Cherry, Anne Leigh Cooper, Meredith Majors and Al Snow.
Werewolves Within is a 2021 American mystery comedy horror film directed by Josh Ruben from a screenplay by Mishna Wolff, based on the video game of the same name from Red Storm Entertainment. It stars Sam Richardson, Milana Vayntrub, George Basil, Sarah Burns, Michael Chernus, Catherine Curtin, Wayne Duvall, Harvey Guillén, Rebecca Henderson, Cheyenne Jackson, Michaela Watkins, and Glenn Fleshler, and follows a group of people in a small Vermont town who get trapped in a snowstorm only to suspect one of them is a werewolf.
The Wolf of Snow Hollow is a 2020 American comedy horror film about a small Utah town that is seemingly terrorized by a werewolf. It was written and directed by Jim Cummings who also stars along with Riki Lindhome, Chloe East, Jimmy Tatro, and Robert Forster. The film is dedicated to Forster, as it was the last of his career, completed shortly before his death.
Shelby Oaks is a 2024 American supernatural horror mystery film produced, written, and directed by Chris Stuckmann in his feature directorial debut. It stars Camille Sullivan, Brendan Sexton III, Michael Beach, Robin Bartlett, Keith David, Charlie Talbert, Emily Bennett, and Sarah Durn. The film is also produced by Aaron B. Koontz, Cameron Burns, and Ashleigh Snead.
Delivery: The Beast Within is a 2013 American found footage horror film directed by Brian Netto, starring Laurel Vail, Danny Barclay and Rob Cobuzio.
Marvel Studios' Werewolf by Night (Original Soundtrack) is the film score to the Marvel Studios television special Werewolf by Night, directed and composed by Michael Giacchino. The soundtrack album was released by Hollywood Records and Marvel Music on October 7, 2022, coinciding with the Disney+ release.
Baby Ruby is a 2022 American psychological horror-thriller film written and directed by Bess Wohl, in her directorial debut. It stars Noémie Merlant, Kit Harington, and Meredith Hagner.
Blackout is a 2023 American horror film written and directed by Larry Fessenden and starring Alex Hurt, Addison Timlin and Motell Gyn Foster. As with Fessenden's previous film Depraved, it is inspired by classic monster movies though it is not a direct remake. Fessenden has named Marvel Comics's Werewolf by Night series as an inspiration for the film, in addition to the Universal Classic Monster films of the 30s, 40's and 50's.
Caoilinn Springall is an American actress, best known for starring in the science-fiction film, The Midnight Sky (2020), spy-action thriller television series Citadel (2023), and The Beast Within (2024).
In the Lost Lands is an upcoming epic fantasy film directed by Paul W.S. Anderson and written by Anderson and Constantin Werner, based on a short story by George R.R. Martin, starring Milla Jovovich, Dave Bautista, and Arly Jover.