Overview: When a rogue priest (Álex Angulo of PAN’S LABYRINTH) discovers the exact date The Antichrist will be born, he’ll enlist a Death Metal record store clerk (Santiago Segura of KILLER BARBYS) and a cheesy TV psychic (Armando De Razza) for an urban spree of gore, sacrilege and twisted humor (San Francisco Examiner) to prevent the Apocalypse by summoning Satan himself!

Terele Pávez (800 BULLETS) co-stars in this classic of modern Spanish cinema (Screen Anarchy) - winner of 6 Goya Awards including Best Director - now restored in 4k from the original negative and loaded with all-new Special Features.

4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Verdict: In between his cult hit debut ACCIÓN MUTANTE and proudly depraved PERDITA DURANGO, writer/director Álex de la Iglesia delivered the international smash that remains one of the best horror comedies of our time!

The Day of The Beast (aka El Día de la Bestia) is a transcendental movie, maybe so important that it’s hard to admit that it started a revolution!

I mean, just think about the same situation that happened with Evil Dead for the comparisons are incredible. This film is also a diabolical mix of black humor, gore, a scary plot, plenty of action, all with the look of a comic book.

With the aforementioned description, it seems that the film shouldn’t be taken seriously mainly because most of the mentioned elements make a hint to black humor cinema.

But the movie doesn’t concentrate specifically on any of those aspects, No, it follows an intense pace with the purpose of solving a sinister plot through the aforementioned black humor and horror. It executes those elements as complements without keeping in mind it’s objective.

We get scenes of darkness, with humor entwinned that tend to be cruel, hilarious, and sinister. For example, the giant cross crushing a priest. Or what about the priest chasing Jose Mari’s sister and dispatching his mother?

The scenes with most tension and terror deal with the satanic ritual where a black goat appears and when the devil makes a terrifying appearance (standing up confronting José Mari and throwing him out of the tower and then confronting the priest).

Thus I understand now how Drag Me To Hell got inspired in the use of shadows and the talking goat! (you saw it here first folks!!)

The on-screen duo of the priest and José Mari is hilarious and gives you an idea of a very sui-generis friendship based on religious obsession, heavy metal, insane dialogs, and more.

The dialog has a little something for everyone also although at some moments the demonic references may creep you out - because most of them are very accurate!

Other moments will make you laugh out loud mainly because of the irreverence’s of the crazed priest and José Mari, or because of their physical humor (it plays a very important part).

But those elements couldn’t be accomplished without a talented cast. The three principal actors were born for their roles. In particular, Álex Angulo delivers a comedic, creepy performance filled with anxiety but conviction to follow his ideals.

He is in charge to change the pace of the movie when it reaches levels of surrealism. Armando De Razza is perfect and believable as Professor Cavan, a charlatan in disguise who enjoys making money and success (and hot women) through the ingenuity of the audience.

A versatile actor, Santiago Segura becomes an instant favorite of the audience as the loyally obsessed partner of the priest. He delivers the perfect doses of humor and with his heavy metal knowledge he spouts gives you an idea of how irreverent he himself is.

Special mention goes out to the extreme hottie María Grazia Ciconotta. Wow, she is so very hot and extremely sexy. And those are real! The score is great with the movie having an official soundtrack with songs of the heavy metal, rap, and hip-hop genres all included.

The direction by Alex de la Iglesia is spectacular, truly rich and great. We get dynamic sequences, other more elegant ones, and others that just take the obvious need for a high budget to a whole other plane, but that said, the movie always looks dynamic and radiant.

I mean, the world never looked this dark before the Apocalypse!

The cinematography and art direction are both perfect also and help convey the overall richness and darkness perfectly. I mean, this is truly a prime example of black humor, horror, and quality.

Other films like these, well, I can only think of Evil Dead, Drag Me To Hell, and Mucha Sangre. In truth, simply the word Cool better describes this movie overall, I think.

To sum it up, this movie is an entertainment production and is both funny and yet rough enough for any horror fan. It’s a black comedy that should please any fanatic of horror, of that you have my word! This is a Widescreen Presentation (1.85:1) enhanced for 16x9 TVs and comes with the Special Features of:

Heirs Of The Beast - Feature Length Documentary by Diego López and David Pizarro on the Making and Cultural Impact of DAY OF THE BEAST
Antichrist Superstar - Interview with Director Alex de la Iglesia
The Man Who Saved the World - Interview with Actor Armando De Razza
Beauty and the Beast - Interview with Actress Maria Grazia Cucinotta
Shooting The Beast - Interview with Director Of Photography Flavio Martínez Labiano
Mirindas Asesinas - 1990 Short Film by Alex de la Iglesia
Trailers

www.severin-films.com