Reviewed by Kevin Scott, MoreHorror.com
She Beast (1966)
Written and Directed by: Michael Reeves
Cast: Barbara Steele (Veronica), John Karlsen (Count von Helsing), Ian Ogilvy (Philip) Mel Welles (Landislav Groper)Richard Watson (Comrade Police Lieutenant)
This week I’m going really old school with a British Italian horror classic, “The She Beast”. There’s the strong possibility that I have seen this movie in the past maybe on a local channel from back in the day, but I don’t recall it if I did. I should have though, because, it’s definitely an important film in the history of horror. It won’t change your life if you watch it now, but I bet it inspired some horror filmmakers early on, whose work we enjoy today.
“The She Beast” tells the story of the evil witch Vardella, who is terrorizing villagers in 18th century Transylvania. Finally, the townspeople have had enough, and they go medieval on her, drowning her in the lake with an elaborate dunking chair. Before she dies, she vows vengeance on all the descendants of her torturers, and promises that she will live again. Fast forward 200 years, and attractive couple Philip and Veronica are in Transylvania on their honeymoon. After, being peeped on by the pervy innkeeper, they leave, and are involved in a car accident that sends the car into the very same lake that Vardella was drowned in. Vardella possesses the body of Veronica, and she goes on a killing spree in an unholy attempt to avenge her execution. The only hope for Philip to save Veronica is to team up with Count von Helsing, a descendant of another guy that rid Transylvania of another unholy terror. Barbara Steele is radiantly beautiful, but don”t expect a seductive sexy witch. Vardella brought her looks with the possession package, and fell out of the ugly tree, hitting every branch on the way down.
I mentioned this being an important horror film. In my opinion it’s a must see for any horror fan, because it’s the freshman effort of horror film director Michael Reeves. Kind of like the Jim Morrison of filmmakers, who set the world on fire, and left it while still in his twenties. He would go on after “The She Beast” to direct the Vincent Price classic “Witchfinder General”. Barbara Steele had the horror pedigree of being in Maria Bava’s “Black Sunday” Also the witch is so gross, and decrepit it had to be nightmare fuel for a little Rob Zombie a few decades ago. If you enjoy classic horror, I know you will love this film. If you don’t, watch it anyway. It’s a great film from a bygone era,