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Friday, April 23, 2010

Beastly: A Tale as Old as Time Gets a Modern Update

By Paige MacGregor

What happens when the hottest, richest guy in school has a run-in with the school’s resident “witch”? In the case of director Daniel Barnz’ (The Cutting Room, Phoebe in Wonderland) upcoming film, Beastly, the consequences can be devastating.

Barnz’ film, a modern-day adaptation of the classic “Beauty and the Beast” story, is set for release this July. And although it might not sound like the type of film usually featured on The Vault of Horror, Beastly is worth mentioning for several reasons, not the least of which is its eclectic cast, which includes Alex Pettyfer (Wild Child, Tormented), Vanessa Hudgens (High School Musical), Mary-Kate Olson (New York Minute, The Wackness) and Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother).

When Kyle (Pettyfer) upsets school outcast and rumored witch Kendra (Olson), she places a curse on him that transforms his good looks into mutilated hideousness. The spell gives Kyle one year to find a woman to fall in love with him despite his new appearance; failing to do so means he will retain his new, horrifying appearance forever.

The transformation that Pettyfer’s character undergoes in the film is one torn from the pages of fantasy and horror alike, and the source material that the film uses—the “Beauty and the Beast” story—falls solidly within the confines of the “dark fantasy” genre, placing Beastly within The Vault of Horror’s jurisdiction.

Don’t believe me? Take a look at the trailer below and see for yourself.

6 comments:

atsie said...

nice information, thank you for sharing :)
looking forward to see your next posting..

Missy Y. (formerly A Case of You) said...

I don't know, y'all. I'm watching this trailer, and I'm thinking, um... this is not looking so good. The best part is the Death Cab song, which was better used during the drug scene in Six Feet Under.

It just looks... too... easy.

You dig?

B-Sol said...

I'm thinking they might be going for the Twilight crowd here, not sure. Time will tell, I suppose. I'm all for the NPH, that's for sure...

Anelis said...

I hope Neil Patrick Harris has some decent screentime 'cause the film seems kinda weak (and why should a brow-less tattooed guy be considered oh-so-ugly? ). The chick from high school musical...mm okay I'm down with that, but the Olsen girl as the ugly unattractive witch? Really? In what universe? Aside that I'm interested to see how they will retell the story (although i think the trailer doesn't leave much to speculate), also what a poor job of a poster is this? It really is reminiscent of twatligh...

goblin said...

I'm sorry, but how exactly is this horror? Because of the witch and the curse she places on the arrogant rich kid? If that's the case, we might as well start calling 'Twilight' a horror movie because there are vampires and werewolves in it.

Also, I find it highly ironic how the film's message (personality is more important than looks, blah blah) is utterly ruined by the fact that the filmmakers didn't even have the guts to make their handsome lead actually look ugly to get their point across! Seriously, shallow movies like this one make me want to vomit harder than any gross-out horror flick ever could!

B-Sol said...

Don't hold back, Goblin, tell us how you really feel! :-)

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