WasAnnon Slow pace in the most part of the movie.

Glucedee It's hard to see any effort in the film. There's no comedy to speak of, no real drama and, worst of all.

SeeQuant Blending excellent reporting and strong storytelling, this is a disturbing film truly stranger than fiction

Cassandra Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

Leofwine_draca Michael Reeves, the director famed for his bloodthirsty classic WITCHFINDER GENERAL, made his feature film debut with this astonishingly low budget camp classic, which is tacky, tawdry, and totally insane. You won't believe the low budget when you watch this film, as the camera repeatedly shakes and the obviously grainy film stock ruins any of the landscape beauty that Reeves filmed. Despite these obvious flaws, there is a lot more to this film than you might expect, and it's not just another Italian exploitation piece. Mainly, there is an unexpected slice of broad comedy in the film, of the slapstick variety, which really comes into play when the heroes are chased by a trio of incompetent policemen, who repeatedly squabble and fall over. This kind of comedy sits oddly out of place with the horror of the film, and makes it all the more intriguing because of this.Ian Ogilvy also makes his film debut as the dashing hero of the film, who has some hilarious dialogue. It sounds like the voices have been dubbed over this film afterwards, and a lot of the dialogue is very, very unintentionally funny. Barbara Steele stars as Ogilvy's wife, but has a very small role, as she only filmed for a single day (even if that day did last 18 hours). For most of the film she is possessed by the spirit of the evil witch, Vordella, and her name is there simply to add more glamour and a bit of class and a "name" star to the proceedings. These pair are joined by a crusty professor of the occult, a certain Von Helsing, played with mischievous relish by John Karlsen, and a lot of the fun comes from the sparring between he and Ogilvy. Mel Welles also enjoys himself in a small role as a sleazy hotel owner, who meets an infamous hammer-and-sickle death by the witch.The horror elements of this relatively short film are almost outweighed by the comedy aspects of it, and the narrative concentrates on a car chase for the finale, in which weirdos on motorbikes ride around dangerously for no reason. This scene is so strange as to be almost deranged, and the viewer really must watch it because my description doesn't do it any justice. However, when there is violence the blood is quite liberal, and Reeves even uses close ups of writhing worms in eye sockets like Fulci did later in ZOMBIE FLESH EATERS.The witch itself looks quite horrible, even if the rubber mask is obvious. Even worse are the screeching noises which the witch makes, and these are in some respects very frightening and repulsive - it reminded me of the witch noises in THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT. The stand out scenes of the film are the opening flashbacks to the witch's death, where she is drowned via a huge wooden contraption in the local lake. The later classic moments of WITCHFINDER GENERAL are foreshadowed here. THE SHE BEAST is a little oddity of a film, with an extremely low budget, yet Reeves adds in some distinctly unusual elements to make it more interesting than you would imagine at first. Worth tracking down.

Edgar Soberon Torchia I had read negative reviews about this film all these years and also that director Michael Reeves was "horrified by the outrageously comical final car chase scene shot by the second unit", but, as a matter of fact, all the film has a comedy tone and funny elements, even in its creepiest moments (as when the she-beast throws away the sickle she has used to kill, and it falls on top of a hammer, forming the communist symbol). The story takes place in Transylvania, so there are constant jokes (in the Cold War style) about the backwardness and inefficiency of the Romanian authorities, capitalist characters make fun of communist characters and vice versa, and it goes on like that until the happy ending with lovers reunited (and a final little joke, delivered by Barbara Steele). As a matter of fact, this treatment makes the film seem better than it is, although it is not as bad as some claim. Steele spent only one day with the production (a day in which she was used to very good advantage), so most of the action is left to a very young and thin Ian Ogilvy (he was only 23), New Zealander John Karlsen as a descendant of Dr. Van Helsing, Mel Welles chewing the scenery, and the ugliest witch you will ever see in a movie (called Vardella, by the way, but apparently Martha Reeves never heard about this).

ASouthernHorrorFan A word of warning to any Wiccan or Witch, "The She Beast" is a film that adheres to the very old world Catholic view of witches. That view is the same as in the silent film classic "Haxan". That all witches were hideous she devils hidden away from society and only interested in communing with the devil and eating your children. However as a horror fan who is well aware that this is an out-dated offensive view toward anyone who practices the ancient art I love this representation of the witch as ultimate monster, frankly because it gets old seeing possible "lipstick lesbians" hanging out in coffee shops and celebrating themselves all over Nature's good grace only victimized and forced to use magic in self defense. This "offensive" alternate look at the witch is far more fun and entertaining to watch on screen. Now for my review."The She Beast" stars Barbara Steele and Ian Ogilvy as a couple of British subjects on a European honeymoon vacation arriving in Transylvania. The rest at a hotel in the cursed town that his keeper of a legend of nightmare. In the 18th century the villagers laid to rest a nasty witch after she had taken one too many of the town's children. Unfortunately for them they did not wait for the Van Helsing family to properly exorcise the wretched creature so they live in the shadow of the deed that comes back to live again once more. The film relies on minimal dialog that actually leads you into the story, only highlights of what is happening are actually held up with commentary. Most of the conversation revolves around poking fun at old world superstitions, trivial every day stuff and jabs at communism. The film is super low budget and was only shot in 21 days which shows. There is a continuous flow as the plot twists and dialog bounce from the four main characters that play a part in the witch's resurrection that seems rushed and careless. However the on screen action that unfolds in this classic B movie is fun as hell and the witch is truly a sight to see. Sadly she is not really as gruesome as one would hope, shown more like a wild animal that keeps getting loose instead of a planned revenge with system. Barbara still is classic Barbara in the film which truly is the saving grace of this little film. The sound and film quality are not all that great but for me gave that drive in B movie feel that just added to my experience of watching this one. I definitely see myself enjoying it over and over again just for the fun of it. Oh and because it is Barbara Steele. I just luv her!

classicsoncall Well so far I'm batting 0 for 2 today, with an early viewing of a pretentious Belgian film "La Moustache", and even though I like to vary my genres for the sake of a well rounded viewing experience, this one also failed to deliver big time. I was drawn to the title because of Barbara Steele's name at the top of the credits, but she's really not in this very much at all, unless you want to consider that might be her under all the hideous make-up of the title character, but we know that's not the case. I really don't feel I need to go into the details of the flick because other reviewers here do that well enough, and I've already invested enough time into this travesty. High points would be that head scratching hammer and sickle scene, and Von Helsing asking Philip if he noticed anything unusual after the car crash. Low points would be, well, everything else. Take Philip's advice when at one point he says to Von Helsing - "I haven't time for your nonsense".P.S. - My summary line - they were talking about the movie.