Human Beasts Review on DVD from BCI Eclipse!
I don’t think, even if I wrote a hundred-page essay, that I could capture just why I adore the films of Paul Naschy so much. Like Jesus Franco and Jean Rollin, he’s the kind of ingredient in the huge mixture of horror and fantasy that isn’t to everyone’s tastes but if you’re one of those who gets the tickle in the mouth, you just can’t get enough.
I’ve only really briefly approached his huge scope of work twice on Severed Cinema back in the first couple of years I had arrived. The Hanging Woman (see review here) isn’t very good, but it wasn’t his fault, he performed, and the classic trash The People Who Own the Dark (see review here) which sits in my top 20 of all time. So, it’s only right I return with something chosen at complete random. No werewolves just yet, but his slept-on gem, Human Beasts (El carnaval de la bestias). Speaking of his werewolf flicks, that’s how myself and my ex-horror soulmate became fans of his by finding an old VHS of Werewolf Shadow one day in a junk shop. We were enthralled by the entertaining if ludicrous proceedings, naming him The Jokeshop Werewolf, thus I continued to seek and locate many other titles.
In Jacinto Molina Alvarez, a.k.a. Paul Naschy’s long career, he was a pioneer of films from his country and one of the forefathers of Euro Trash. Actor, writer, director, producer, effects guy, if he wanted, he’d try his hands at anything. Who cared about the results? His fans loved his stuff so much because there was imagination and a huge heart behind it all.
Human Beasts is something away from his werewolves, vampires, hunchbacks, zombies, devils, and such, he plays Bruno, probably answering the description of an antihero more than anything. Bruno is a mercenary, currently working for the Yakusa, who double crosses his bosses and kills members of the group with no mercy.
After a beautifully funky and ‘70s rendition of an old classic horror theme, we arrive at Bruno on a pier discussing things with Mieko, a young lady who runs the organization with her brother. She tells him how whilst he’s worked for them, she’s fallen in love with him. It transpires that the feeling is mutual. Anyhow, there’s a big job coming up. Bruno and her brother, Taro, discuss business whilst having a massage as you do when you need to show off how muscular and stocky ex-weightlifter, Paul is.
The work is done, Bruno kills all witnesses, and has a case of diamonds. Taro is upset by the slaughter but even more upset when Bruno double crosses them and escapes with the diamonds. Broken hearted, Mieko requests that Bruno kill her. “I don’t have the courage to.” and he rides off on his motorbike. The brother and sister hire more mercenaries to track him, and they arm themselves for the hunt. They find him hiding out in a ruined castle. Much gunfire ensues, Bruno takes down most but is blasted by a hate filled Mieko.
Mortally wounded, Bruno escapes barely with the diamonds and wanders the countryside until finally collapsing. He hastily hides the case of sparkles and then lapses into unconsciousness. You’d be mistaken into assuming this is an intense action crime movie, however things change slowly and carefully when the almost deceased Bruno is rescued by a family who live in the middle of nowhere.
The huge country estate they live within seldom accepts visitors aside from the local veterinarian who tends to their livestock. Two smiling nubile sisters take turns looking after Bruno, and their father who is a doctor, helps him recover. Also, on the estate lives Raquel, their maid who came from Africa with them after an expedition. The vet, Don Serafin, constantly wants her “black meat” whilst she teases him regularly. However, there seems to be someone else prowling and watching through cracks in doors etcetera.
Don Simon, the father, and head of the household lost his wife years ago. However, her presence looms over the surroundings. Could she be the one stalking and observing? Don spends his time reading, tending to Bruno, and whipping Raquel whilst she screams in passion.
The plot thickens, as our antihero begins to discover the secrets of the house and romance blooms for Bruno, the unknown watcher begins killing. Meanwhile, a vengeful Mieko, being the last survivor of the hunting party, will not give in in her search for Bruno, and closes in, unaware of what is going on within the edifice…
Human Beasts is incredible for many reasons. The locations and camera shots are awesome, the music that accompanies the film is totally ‘70s marvellous, but best of all is the creeping lingering steady build-up of dread. You know there’s something wrong with the habitants of the villa, they’re way too nice, and Bruno in his weakened state isn’t tuned into everything.
The cast of Human Beasts are very strong in their roles and all so believable. Paul is surrounded by a competent gang. Stand outs, aside from Naschy (more on him soon) has to be Eiko Nagashima as the relentless Mieko, and Lautaro Murua as Don Simon, the kindly healing doctor but with so much darkness behind his eyes.
Paul Naschy of course steals the show, as rugged and as genuine as Bruno would be, cold and calculated, then confused and somewhat scared of the unfolding events around him because it’s something he knows nothing about so he cannot control. You feel sympathy for the guy even though, as he admits at one point, he’s done many terrible things in his life. Paul breathes larger than life breath into this person.
Human Beasts is like a loose remake of Naschy’s earlier Blue Eyes of a Broken Doll, with similar theme and main character. There’s a lot of flashbacks that do nothing for the story but aren’t distracting either, adding a bit of meat to the characters of Bruno and Mieko if anything.
The murders are quick and bloody, whilst the two twists aren’t totally unexpected at the conclusion. They are well received and not way too over the top or an exhibition of the absurd. The whole scenario is quite grim and gloomy, and more realistic than many of Paul’s films because he predominantly dealt with entertaining horror fantasy ideas.
This flick has been unfortunately slept on for far too long, rarely mentioned when Naschy films are discussed. My DVD edition by BCI Eclipse, has a great and informative booklet, a fun intro by Paul which sort of reveals a bit too much about the ending, then galleries, and a short film starring Mr. Naschy. The quality of the transfer is sharp and well worth the cash. The sound is also crisp, in fact, this is better than you’d expect.
A total must for Paul fans and lovers of Euro trash, Human Beasts gives us another sympathetic monster which is a special delicacy served many times to his fans.
AKA: The Beast’s Carnival, El carnaval de las bestias, Zangyaku! Kyoen no yakata, Cannibal Killers, Beasias humanas
Directed by: Paul Naschy
Written by: Paul Naschy
Produced by: Paul Naschy,
Cinematography by: Alejandro Ulloa
Editing by: Pedro del Rey
Special Effects by: Juan Ramon Molina, Angel Luis De Diego
Cast: Paul Naschy, Lautaro Murua, Silvia Aguilar, Eiko Nagashima, Kogi Marituga, Roxana Dupre, Pepe Ruiz, Azucena Hernandez
Year: 1980
Country: Spain/ Japan
Language: Spanish (English subtitles)
Colour: Colour
Runtime: 1 h 26 min
Distribution: BCI Eclipse
DVD SPECS:
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Region: PAL R0/ALL
Audio: Dolby Digital Mono
SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL:
– Liner notes booklet
– Introduction by Paul Nashy
– Stills gallery
– Short Film starring Paul Nashy
