Blind Beast (1969) {Arrow Video Blu-ray Review}

Reviewed By Jason Lockard

Arrow Video have been giving many Japanese films on deluxe Blu-ray. The releases of 2021 so far have been Survivors Ballad, Irezumi and The Daimajin Trilogy. Now it is time for another Japanese film to get the deluxe treatment and that film is Blind Beast. 

In 1969 director Yasuzo Masumura brought his film Moju or "Blind Beast" to audiences. The films was based on a novel by Edogawa Rampo.

The film follows Michio (Eiji Funakoshi), a blind sculptor. The artist is helped by his mother (Noriko Sengoku) to kidnap Aki (Mako Midori), a model whose body he admires. He brings her back to his bizarre lair that is  populated by demented art objects that mimic female bodies. As the weeks of torture pass Aki decides to take matters in here own hands.

The Blind Beast is a sexploitation horror film that turns into a cautionary tale of delving into the depths of such things. The themes of this film are extremely rough and will be very hard for many film fans to sit through. It is films with violence and nudity This is a film for a very niche audience.




Arrow Video has transferred this film in High Definition 1080p in it's original widescreen format and is accompanied by the original uncompressed Japanese mono audio. You don't speak Japanese? No worries there is optional English subtitles. This transfer on Blu-ray looks and sounds amazing. But this is not all that is found in this Blu-ray release. Arrow Video loaded up this disc with bonus features. Take a look at what is included.

SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS

* Brand new audio commentary by Asian cinema scholar Earl Jackson
* Newly filmed introduction by Japanese cinema expert Tony Rayns
* Blind Beast: Masumura the Supersensualist, a new visual essay by Japanese literature and visual studies scholar Seth Jacobowitz
* Original Trailer
* Image Gallery
* Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Tony Stella 
* FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Illustrated booklet featuring new writing by Virginie Sélavy

In the final analysis Blind Beast is a unsettling film and for this reviewer at times is just plain hard to watch. The Blu-ray bonus features commentary, introduction and essay gives a lot of insight into this film. Which helps the viewer understand the reasoning behind why this film was made. 

If you are a fan of Japanese cinema Blind Beast is going to be one film you are going to want to add to your collection. You can head over to Amazon.com and order your copy today.


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