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5.4/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 5.4/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Beauty and the Beast remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Honestly, you should probably skip this unless you’re a total completist for weird, antique cinema. If you enjoy feeling like you’re trapped inside a stranger’s subconscious, then maybe this is for you. Otherwise, it’s mostly just a strange relic that makes me miss the charm of Sovetskie igrushki.
The whole thing starts with a little girl falling asleep. It’s the classic trope, but here it feels like the director just wanted an excuse to throw random things at the screen. Toyland? Sure. A Beast? Why not. The pacing is basically nonexistent, jumping from one set piece to another with zero regard for logic.
The makeup work is wild. It doesn't look like a beast so much as a guy who had a very bad day at a costume party. At one point, the Beast just stands there while a toy soldier does some stiff, frantic movements around him. It’s hypnotic in the worst possible way.
I found myself staring at the background extras more than the main plot. Some of them look like they’d rather be anywhere else. I get that feeling. It reminded me of the odd, empty energy in Castles in the Air, where things just sort of exist without much purpose.
It’s not good, but it’s fascinatingly broken. There’s no point in analyzing the story because there isn’t really one. It’s just a mood. A dusty, flickering, strange mood. If you want a real story, go watch Sisters instead.
I think the best way to watch this is with the sound off. The dialogue is just filler anyway. It’s a bit like watching a silent film that accidentally found a microphone and didn't know what to do with it. 🧸