NOTE: The similarly titled 1952 Argentinean Noir, The Beast Must Die (La Bestia Debe Morir), is reviewed HERE

NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Severin Blu-ray (September 2020): Severin have also transferred Paul Annett's The Beast Must Die to a Region FREE Blu-ray. It is described as being "from a brand new 4k scan". Colors support Indicator's 1080P. This is on a single-layered disc and has a similar bitrate (and graph) to the Indicator. The Severin is marginally brighter and there is a slight shift down in the frame, but otherwise inconsequential differences, imo.

For audio, Severin use a 24-bit DTS-HD Master 2.0 channel dual-mono track. My ears couldn't detect much difference - maybe the Indicator had a better high-end and the Severin deeper bass response. Both offer optional English subtitles.  Severin's is a Region FREE Blu-ray.

For the supplements, Severin include the same 2003 commentary (originally from the Dark Sky DVD) with director Paul Annett and writer Jonathan Sothcott. Duplicated as well is the dozen minute Directing the Beast - archival interview with director Paul Annett. I enjoyed the 19-minute audio essay by horror historian Troy Howarth entitled "And Then There Were Werewolves" discussing Agatha Christie, her famous "Ten Little Indians" (aka "And Then There Were None") and the many film adaptations. There is a 7-minute audio interview excerpt of Milton Subotsky on BEAST MUST DIE - interviewed by Philip Nutman and a lengthy (3/4 hour) second audio interview (also repeated and found on the Indicator) - this one with Producer Max J Rosenberg interviewed by Sothcott. The original theatrical trailer included has a delightful optional commentary by genre scholars Kim Newman and David Flint with Newman extolling the film's groundbreaking and influential characteristics - this is also an extra on the Indicator.

So the Severin's Blu-ray is Region FREE and falls short of the Indicator in the extras department (although I loved the Howarth audio essay!) I keep enjoying this film that has more layers than you might expect - especially once you give over to the 'werewolf break'. Like I state about The Beast Must Die; I, personally, consider it a keeper.   

***

ADDITION: Indicator Blu-ray (June 2020): Indicator have transferred Paul Annett's The Beast Must Die to 1080P Blu-ray. It is described as being from a "4K restoration". Colors support the Dark Sky DVD with a greenish tinge. The 1080P is on a single-layered disc and the higher resolution exports a significantly improved image. It is much darker and shows more information in the frame and the superiority is remarkable. More the production weaknesses - but the image can be inconsistent - looking less-effective at times interspersed with crisp sharp close-ups. I'd say this was a demonstrative upgrade from bother DVDs.

NOTE: We have added 62 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Indicator use a linear PCM mono track (24-bit) in the original English language. It is another advancement in the film's audio effects and, not always suitable 'big-band-like', score by Douglas Gamley (Madhouse, The Land That Time Forgot, The City of the Dead, Asylum, And Now the Screaming Starts) sounding authentically flat and clean. Indicator offer optional English (SDH) subtitles on their Region 'B'-locked Blu-ray.

The Indicator Blu-ray includes the 2003 commentary from the Dark Sky DVD with director Paul Annett and writer Jonathan Sothcott. I really liked it - great to hear Annett - an affable, intelligent and easy-going chap. I found it quite a pleasant commentary as he shares his recollection of Cushing, the cast and his first film feature. There are audio interviews that play to the film with Max J. Rosenberg for 47-minutes. This is an archival audio recording from 2000 with the famed producer in conversation with Sothcott. The next is a BEHP Interview with Jack Hildyard from 1988 running the full length of the film. It is an archival audio recording, made as part of the British Entertainment History Project, featuring the Oscar-winning cinematography in conversation with Alan Lawson. There is another BEHP Interview with Peter Tanner entitled "Part Two, 1939-1987" running 80-minutes as part of the British Entertainment History Project, featuring the acclaimed editor in conversation with Roy Fowler and Taffy Haines. We get a short, new, introduction to the film by Stephen Laws (acclaimed horror author) showing his appreciation. Directing the Beast was also on the Dark Sky 2003 DVD running 13-minutes. Indicator has included an 18-minute Super 8 version of The Beat Must Die - a cut-down home cinema presentation. There is an extensive image gallery of publicity and promotional material and an original theatrical trailer plus Kim Newman and David Flint do a trailer commentary from 2017 - also showing appreciation for The Beats Must Die. The package has a limited edition exclusive 40-page booklet (3,000 copies) with a new essay by Neil Young, an archival article on Amicus Productions, a look at the James Blish short story which inspired the film's screenplay, an extract from the pressbook profiling actor Calvin Lockhart, an overview of contemporary critical responses, and film credits.

Paul Annett's The Beast Must Die was the last horror by Amicus. After this the studio did The Land That Time Forgot (1975), At the Earth's Core (1976) and The People That Time Forgot (1977.) The Beast Must Die is a great historical 70's artifact of the genre and studio. A cracker of a werewolf-mystery - very cool on many levels. It's a film that has greatly benefitted by transfer to Blu-ray from Indicator and the extras make it a worthwhile purchase. I consider this a keeper and it definitely gets a strong recommendation!!

Gary Tooze

While the Euroshock DVDs of AND NOW THE SCREAMING STARTS and ASYLUM were interlaced, the barebones disc of THE BEAST MUST DIE features a progressive transfer. While the 1.66:1 aspect ratio would seem to be more appropriate to the British film, Dark Sky's 1.76:1 anamorphic HD-mastered transfer reveals more picture information on the sides (with some still noticeable vertical cropping).

 - Eric Cotenas