COLLECTOR'S CRYPT - THE CREATURE (SEVERIN BLU-RAY)
Politics and horror have always had some overlap. At the most basic level, juxtaposing the nefarious actions of a monster against those of a political party or person is done to simply relay the evil of the political machine and the disenfranchisement that comes from feeling “left behind.” On a deeper level, horror, and politics can be seen as almost a cautionary tale (a la “The Handmaid’s Tale”) to illustrate the horrific potential of bad leaders and their actions. The intertwining of politics and horror has become even more obvious in our current state of affairs, with all forms of media hypothesizing and catastrophizing a future that changes depending on which side of an argument you err towards This isn’t a new phenomenon, however, as weaving in politics into genre film goes back over a century, and thanks to increased access to world films we are finally starting to see how this story transpires outside of North America. Thanks to the folks at Severin Films we can get a glimpse into post-Franco Spain with Eloy de la Igelsia’s “The Creature.” Is this 70s exploitation shocker provocation without a point, or is this political allegory more of a horror story?
WHAT’S IT ABOUT?
After a heartbreaking miscarriage, a couple adopts a stray male dog in hopes of saving their rocky marriage. But as the wife develops an obsessive bond with her new companion, it will trigger jealousies and rivalries that may lead to the most inconceivable act of all.
HOW IS IT?
Sometimes when watching films from other countries we are put in positions where we may not have all the context to fully understand some of a film’s meaning. Case in point, Eloy de la Iglesia’s “The Creature”. A film that on the surface is about a crumbling marriage that may or may not have to do with the wife’s affection for a dog, but beneath that salacious story is a deep commentary on post-Franco Spain and how Fascism doesn’t die simply because a leader loses power. The problem with this is that not everyone is going to see this film that way, especially those unfamiliar with Franco and Spain’s history. One could certainly watch “The Creature” without having that understanding and context, but it is hard to know how well the film will resonate with those who aren’t able to see beyond the provocation of the premise.
Cristina and Marcos are a married couple who have the unfortunate burden of dealing with a miscarriage, and to overcome this, Cristina takes home a stray dog that follows her and Marcos around while on vacation leading to an increasingly romantic relationship with the dog, Bruno. Marcos, while not entirely onboard with the dog from the start grows increasingly jealous of Bruno, also in part due to how Cristina treats him compared to Bruno. What transpires is the destruction of their matrimony as Marcos upholds firm beliefs in a “traditional family” and feels castrated by not being able to reach Cristina romantically or otherwise. It’s all a red herring, as the real story isn’t about a woman loving a dog, but rather about fighting back against conformity and reclaiming one’s power after being subjected to a repressed and restrained society. Cristina may not present as the most likable person, but it doesn’t matter because her disregard for Marcos is a reflection of the rejection of fascism more than a rejection of Marcos. His belief early on that having a child would solve their marital woes is something that many struggling couples may relate to, but it isn’t as much a statement on having children as it is the pressure that antiquated ways of living and being don’t solve problems as much as create new ones. And holding onto those ideals and beliefs, especially in the face of progressiveness and change, should be heeded with a warning.
The problem with “The Creature” is that all of that subtext described above is thinly veiled, and not obvious unless one is either looking for it or aware of it through previous research. The last 15 minutes do start to pile on less subtly, but it may be a bit too late for many folks who won’t persist through the melodrama to reach the more direct parts of the story. As a work of transgressive cinema, “The Creature” doesn’t provoke the viewer with gore or even audacious sexuality, rather it makes the viewer confront the very uncomfortable budding relationship between Bruno the dog and Cristina the woman. In this way, Beastiality serves as a far better option than conforming to fascism, and Cristina says as much in a third-act monologue where she explains to Marcos that living in a society of monsters, and monstrous people, she felt freedom being able to do something even more monstrous. Her relationship with Bruno isn’t because of “love” so much as representing a less futile option for Cristina, which begs the question, is a dog a man AND a woman’s best friend?
HOW DOES IT LOOK?
It is continually impressive how boutique labels like Severin continue to find ways to reinvigorate old films with amazing transfers. “The Creature” is no exception, and it looks gorgeous. Since this is the first time this film has been released stateside, it is hard to determine what previous copies looked like, but it is safe to say that this is likely the best and cleanest “The Creature” has ever looked. Severin was able to use the original negatives for their 2K scan in 1080p maintaining the film’s 1.85:1 aspect ratio. The grain is still intact and has been cleaned up considerably to make the entire thing look refreshingly current. Images from this release are seen throughout this review and below.
HOW DOES IT SOUND?
In the sound department, Severin provides the original Spanish mono audio track along with English subtitles. The sound mix is perfectly fine, clean, and free of pops and crackles. It is more than sufficient for the films since it doesn’t have as many action sequences or segments in need of more robust sound capabilities.
ANYTHING SPECIAL?
Severin isn’t one to play bashful with their releases as they always come loaded to the gills with whatever is either readily available or newly produced. Here, there is a good mix of archival content alongside newly produced content for those looking to explore more about de la Iglesia and “The Creature”. This isn’t as stacked as some other, better-known releases, but it is more than adequate for fans of the film and those curiously interested in more. The feature we checked out was a 14-minute interview with Gasper Noé as he talked about his admiration for Eloy. From one transgressive filmmaker to another, Noé speaks of de la Iglesia fondly while also recounting a somewhat troubled life that he lived during an extremely difficult part of Spain’s sordid recent history. It’s a short, but comprehensive interview with Noé and while it does leave you clamoring for more, it is a densely packed 14 minutes. A full list of special features included are listed below.
Bonus Materials
A Strange Movie – Interview With Assistant Director Alejo Loren
Gaspar / Eloy – Interview With Filmmaker Gaspar Noé
Introduction By Gaspar Noé At Cinémathèque Française (7/20/2023)
LAST RITES
“The Creature” is a divisive film that does require some previous historical context to enjoy fully. Those not wanting to do the legwork may find the story weird and wanting, but for others, this is an interesting curio film dabbling in taboo as a means to speak on bigger, societal issues. The transfer from Severin is top-notch, and while it is hard to recommend this outright, it is surely a must-own for purveyors of the strange and unusual political allegory.
THE GORY DETAILS
Thank you to the fine fiends over at Severin Films for providing a review copy for the crypt! The Creature is available NOW and can be purchased via SEVERIN DIRECT!
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