Beast In Space, The (Severin) Review

Distributor: Severin Edition Details: XXX Version DVD Movie Specs: Genres: Golden Age Classic, Feature Film, Sci-Fi, Foreign Also known as: La Bestia Nello Spazio Run Time: 92 minutes Rated: X Release Year: 1980 Director: Alfonso Brescia (as Al Bradley), Massimo Carocci Written by: Alfonso Brescia, Aldo Crudo Cast: Sirpa Lane (as Shirpa Lane), Vassili Karis (as Vassilli Karis), Lucio Rosato, Umberto Ceriani, Maria D'Alessandro, Giuseppe Fortis, Dada Gallotti, Giuseppe Lauricella, Marina Hedman (as Marina Lotar), Iren Szeremi, Claudio Zucchet, Claudio Undari (as Robert Hundar), Venantino Venantini, Benito Pacifico, Bruno Romagnoli Release Specs: Audio: Italian Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono Subtitles: English Video: Widescreen, 1.85:1 (anamorphic) Video Format: NTSC Format: DVD Regional Code (for DVD/Blu-ray): 1 (North America) Number of discs: 1

It is hard to imagine what audiences that went to see The Beast in Space in adult theaters were thinking upon leaving the theater, other than the fact that they were ripped off. The Beast in Space is a low grade Italian science fiction film designed to show naked flesh but it wasn't shot as a hardcore film. Later, hardcore inserts using body doubles with footage that clearly wasn't shot at the same time the rest of the film was, were added at roughly 67 minutes into the film.

In the film Captain Larry Madison (Vassili Karis), of the Galactic Fleet, gets sent to the planet Lorigan, in an unexplored planetary system, to find Antalium, a rare metal the military uses for neutron weapons. Lt. Sondra Richardson (Sirpa Lane), has recurring nightmares of a man who takes her in a foreign landscape. Once on Lorigan, Sandra finds the man from her dreams, Onaph the ruler of Lorigan, and the crew finds themselves trapped on the planet by the computer Zocar that runs the planet.

The Beast in Space is a slow moving film that loses the interest of the viewer. The plot is poorly developed, had the story been more fine tuned the film could have been okay, but as it exists, it just seams to meander around without really figuring out what it is trying to do. The cast does a poor job with the material they are working with turning in wooden stilted performances. The film is filled with cheesy special effects sequences and cheesy bar fights. Unfortunately, it never reaches that level of being a fun cheesy film.

Despite not being made as a hardcore film, The Beast in Space uses every opportunity within its grasp to show the naked body. If it had been made as a hardcore film it might have actually improved the film since some of the filler content could have been pulled out from the film. But as it stands, in the footage that actually was shot for the film, it gets as close to being hardcore as it can without crossing the line.

The Beast in Space fails as a good or entertaining film on all levels. Nor does the hardcore inserts that have been added to the XXX version add anything at all to the film. This is an easy film to pass on.

Severin has done an acceptable job with The Beast in Space. The Beast in Space is presented in the anamorphic widescreen aspect ratio of 1.85:1. The print used for the transfer was found in a condemned adult theater outside of Bologna, Italy. The picture sports beautiful colors and contains artifacts and grain. The transfer for the film looks good. Severin has only included the X-rated version of The Beast in Space on this release and not the standard theatrical version.

The Beast in Space is presented with an Italian Dolby Digital 2.0 monaural track, which works fine for the material being presented. The dialog and effects are easy to hear and clear at all times. English subtitles are provided for the feature film.

Severin hasn't included much in the way of extras on this release. The “hardcore” theatrical trailer is included on the disc along with three minutes of hardcore deleted scenes.

The Beast in Space is a poorly done Italian softcore science fiction film that had hardcore inserts added to it to become a poorly done Italian hardcore science fiction film. The plot is slow and not overly well developed nor interesting. The acting is bad. The hardcore sequence doesn't even fit within the film. Severin has done a good job with the transfer for this release but hasn't included much for extras.

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