The Beast Within

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Stephen O. @DonSevo Dec 5 Good acting, but Christ the plot really sucks. They really didn’t market this one well - they implied it was a werewolf movie, but instead we got a were-cicada… not even joking. This thing needs to be stricken from the record. See more TheMovieSearch R @TheMovieSearch Nov 30 Horror fans often revisit older films hoping to discover an overlooked gem, and The Beast Within is one of those titles that initially appears as though it might have been destined for cult-classic status. On paper, it has the ingredients of a chilling creature feature: Southern gothic atmosphere, a mysterious curse, and a slow-burn setup that suggests something terrifying lurking beneath the surface. But from the moment the film settles into its dialogue-heavy foundation, it becomes clear that the promise of a true horror standout is never fulfilled. Instead, the movie drags itself through scenes that feel more like rehearsals than storytelling, weighed down by unfocused conversations and an inconsistent tone. The film’s writing is one of its most glaring flaws. The script attempts to build suspense through exposition, but the endless back-and-forth dialogue drains the tension instead of enhancing it. What could’ve been a gripping investigation into an otherworldly creature becomes an exhausting loop of explanations, debates, and melodramatic reactions. This isn’t atmospheric horror—it’s narrative stagnation. The more the screenplay tries to justify its mythology, the more artificial and hollow the entire premise begins to feel. Direction fares no better, and unfortunately it compounds the film’s problems. Rather than leaning into the gritty, unsettling potential of the story, the director pushes the material into a realm that feels unintentionally campy. Scenes meant to be menacing instead come across as awkward and even laughable, creating a tonal clash that the movie never recovers from. Instead of conjuring dread, the filmmaking choices make the story feel strangely passive and disconnected, as if the film itself isn’t quite sure what it wants to be. Of course, no creature feature can survive without a convincing monster, and The Beast Within collapses entirely in this regard. The creature design is aggressively unconvincing, and its final reveal feels like a parody of practical effects rather than a satisfying payoff. The climax, which should have been the film’s big moment of horror spectacle, instead exposes every technical weakness—rubbery prosthetics, messy staging, and an execution that borders on unintentional comedy. It’s the kind of ending that makes viewers wonder how it ever made it out of the editing room. The overall experience is so underwhelming that it becomes difficult to take the film seriously. For a movie that aims to explore fear, transformation, and mythological terror, The Beast Within ends up feeling creatively and emotionally empty. Its attempts at horror come across as forced, and its narrative ambitions collapse under the weight of clumsy filmmaking. Even viewers who enjoy vintage creature movies may find this one a frustrating watch. Ultimately, The Beast Within isn’t just a disappointment—it’s a cautionary tale about squandered potential. What begins with promise deteriorates into one of the most uninspired horror experiences you’re likely to encounter, made even more frustrating by how seriously the film takes itself despite its glaring flaws. It’s rare to find a horror movie that feels this hollow, but this one earns that unfortunate distinction. If anything, the best advice is simple: don’t watch it, and don’t even put it on your "maybe someday" list. This is one creature feature best left buried. See more Mary W Aug 31 I thought this film was a thrilling and unique take on werewolves. It truly shows how changing is a curse and affects those around you. I wish it could have expanded on how the main protagonist fell in love but it was amazing story telling and acting. See more JW R Jun 14 Some unexplained stuff about life cycle of a cicada and did mamma do the nasty with a cicada . But pretty good visuals See more Nick O May 25 Nice little backwoods drive-in monster flick with tons of blood and slime, about a young man going through changes. Except in this case, puberty entails hillbilly flesh chompin’ and mutant insect body horror! See more Aisha B Feb 9 Classic that should be in every 80s rotation See more Read all reviews

The Beast Within

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