“Fairy tale becomes macabre, visceral horror in this superb Czech version of the story.” – Close-Up Film

From the rich and textured imagination of Czechoslovak visionary Juraj Herz (The Cremator) comes a gothic-horror reimagining of the classic fairy tale in Beauty and the Beast. Alson known as “The Virgin and the Monster,” this unnerving dark fantasy follows the innocent Julie (Zdena Studenková) who spares her father’s (Václav Voska) life by agreeing to live under the watchful eye of a bird-like monster, a macabre and elusive figure torn between his growing affection for the young beauty and his animalistic urge to kill. Gorgeously shot, intriguingly surreal, thrillingly sensual, Beauty and the Beast is unlike any adaptation you’ve seen before. Miles away from the frolicsome family-friendliness of Walt Disney or the opulent fantasia of Renoir’s version, Herz’s muddy, decaying vision is very much its own Beast.

Each month, Arkadin presents a selection of FOLK HORROR AROUND THE WORLD, creepy folktales from all corner of the globe to give you the Sunday scaries.

Arkadin does not generally provide advisories about subject matter or potentially triggering content in films, as sensitivities vary from person to person. However, we encourage researching titles to determine if a screening may contain content that could be upsetting to you. Please feel free to contact us for guidance on specific films. Information about content can also be found on Common Sense Media, IMDB and DoesTheDogDie.com, as well as through general internet searches.