AP
Antonluigi Pecchia aka Pax
•Various episodes showing different acts of human perversion are projected by a doctor for scientific purposes. According to José Mojica Marins, the object that induces people to commit these acts of perversion is the increasingly frequent use of drugs! He will then take four volunteers and make them believe that he has administered LSD to them in order to have them examine the character Zé Do Caixao!
Film by José Mojica Marins, who here, unlike his other works, particularly deals with acts of perversion, especially in the first part where there is a good dose of nudity.
This film, in addition to being divided into various episodes that make it up, could be divided into two larger parts: in the first part there are various acts of perversion, shown with much wild violence, that capture the viewer and leave them disoriented (the images are in "black and white"), in the second part instead appears and is examined the figure of Zé Do Caixao (the images here are instead half in "black and white" and half in "color"), a recurring character in Marins' films.
This film is proof of the maturity that this director reaches after making four films, presenting a plot that is very current even today, especially considering today's news.
"O despertar da besta" is a film with a very original plot (plots like this today we dream of!), certainly difficult to judge, but with a style as strange as it is brilliant, that will still make many people turn up their noses.
Overall, I recommend watching this film to everyone, but especially to those who are tired of modern horror and would like to see a film with an original plot, a rare thing in the sea of remakes, sequels, or prequels that is invading us.
Curiosity: this film was broadcast on a satellite channel (in full version and subtitled in Italian) with the title translated into Italian "Il risveglio della bestia".
The film is also known worldwide under the titles: "Awakening of the Beast" or "Ritual Dos Sádicos".
"O despertar da besta" stands out from most of this director's films because Marins, who usually plays Zé Do Caixao (a cult character created by J. M. Marins), here we find him in the role of himself.