Review of Blind Beast (1969) by Brandon B — 21 May 2008

Very very surreal. Horror is definitely not the word I would use to describe this though (as I've seen it often described). It's an experiment in human emotion and sensation. We all seek pleasure from our senses -- a beautiful image, a favorite meal or song. The blind sculptor seeks pleasure through touch, and I believe he genuinely wants to share what he has found to be a superior method of experiencing his surroundings with the world. The only reason his altruistic intentions are changed is the model's eventual understanding of and expansion on his original idea. If touch can be so sensual (even without sexual connotation), then an extreme of touch (pain) can be even more so. If pain can be even more sensual that touch, than the extreme of pain (death) can be even more sensual.

The film itself is amazingly narrow in its scope, and this is greatly to its credit. Within the first few minutes of the film the model is kidnapped and placed in the studio, never to escape. There are only three people in the entire film. The oppressive walls filled with sculpted body parts bear down on every scene, and even the camera angles -- lots of tight shots with actors filling the frame -- add to the surrealism. I even may have liked it more if it were shot in black-and-white, to put more emphasis on the sensual rather than visual themes.

All in all, I'm very glad I took the time to see this film. Good stuffs.