“La Bête,” aka “The Beast,” is a 1975 French erotic horror film directed by Walerian Borowczyk. The film stars Sirpa Lane, Lisbeth Hummel, and Marcel Dalio in leading roles.
The narrative unfolds in 19th-century France, revolving around the life of Philip Broadhurst, a respected businessman. Upon his demise, his estate is bequeathed to his daughter Lucy (portrayed by Lisabeth Hummel). However, there’s a catch-she must wed Mathurin (played by Pierre Benedetti), the son of Pierre de l’Esperanc (played by Guy Trejan), within six months to secure the family’s wealth.
Pierre, the proprietor of the family’s horse-breeding enterprise, employs Mathurin as a manager. Mathurin, who is physically disabled and mentally challenged, has never undergone baptism. In a bid to keep this secret, Pierre arranges for the local Priest (played by Roland Armontel) to visit their home for Mathurin’s baptism. To distract the Priest from discovering the truth, Pierre promises to renovate the church and install a new bell, and then proceeds to conduct the baptism himself.
Pierre blackmails Rammaendelo (played by Marcel Dalio) into persuading his brother to perform the marriage by telling him that he has proof that Rammaendelo poisoned his wife. Rammaendelo cannot reach the Priest, so Pierre sends a telegram, assuring him that Mathurin has been baptized and urging him to attend this evening.
During dinner, Mathurin’s bad manners become noticeable to everyone. Lucy and her aunt try to leave but are convinced to stay. Later, after drinking too much wine, most guests fall asleep while waiting for the Cardinal. Lucy goes to her room, changes into her thin wedding dress, and dreams that she is Romilda. In her dream, she sees a lamb wandering into the forest. She runs after the lamb and finds that it has been killed by a black, hairy beast.
The beast chases Lucy through the forest in the ensuing comic dream sequence. She loses most of her clothing in the process and ends up hanging by her arms from a branch, and the beast sexually assaults her. Lucy wakes up sweating and wonders if it was merely a dream. She tiptoes to Mathurin’s room, but he is asleep, fully clothed, on his bed. Lucy returns to her room and dreams that the beast is copulating with her. She wakes again and is convinced that Mathurin must have visited her. She revisits his room, but he is still sleeping soundly.
Lucy returns to her sexually charged dream, where the beast dies of exhaustion in the process. Lucy wakes and walks into Mathurin’s room to find him dead on the floor. She runs naked through the house screaming, and everyone runs to her aid. Virginia (played by Elisabeth Kaza) examines Mathurin’s body and discovers that a plaster cast on his arm conceals a claw for a hand. Pulling his clothes off reveals that he is covered in thick black hair and has a tail, indicating that he is a descendant of Romilda and the beast.
The film delves into themes of desire, power, and the primal nature of sexuality. “La Bête” is known for its controversial and explicit depictions of eroticism and bestiality, which are presented in a surreal and dreamlike manner.
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