The Beast (1996)

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I saw this movie (or mini series) a few days ago and thought it was pretty good. It´s based on the novel with the same name from the same author of "Jaws". Right now I have a slight obsession with movies about giant sea monsters and I´ve always had an interest in squids and other molluscs.

It´s about a giant squid who kills a few people, destroys fishing nets etc. The people of the village finds out about it and decides to hunt it down and kill it. A fisherman and his helpers kill a big squid but scientists finds out that it was just a baby. Then it´s mother goes on a revenge killing spree. I actually felt quite sad for the squid because first her baby was killed and then she got killed in the end. Sure she killed people but I still felt bad for her when she screamed in despair and grief. There´s a scene where a couple decides to look at the dead baby squid that now lies in a pond on the shore. One of them is almost killed by the mother who has also come there. It´s quite touching because you get to see her reaching out for her child (that particular sequence had very bad special effects though) and scream. I doubt squids scream in real life but it was a nice touch here.

Here´s the trailer:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1HyiBq6Njw[/youtube]

Have any of you seen it and if so what are your opinions?

Yeah I've seen this mini series many times in the past. It still freaks me out when they have a close up of the squid's beak and that sound it makes when it opens it. Never read the book though. Funny you should mention that you have a slight obsession for monster movies because I've only just watched the movie Godzilla (the 90's one) a few moments ago. Can't wait for the reboot in 2014.

I know that in the novel the squid was killed by a sperm whale but I guess they changed it because they wanted to make the people heroes. I thought it was scary everytime the squid came into view the first time I saw it but now I´ve watched it a few times more and now I only think it´s slightly scary when they zoom in her eye.

I saw part of it on TV a few years ago, and had been waiting for it to come out on DVD ever since. Finally broke down and bought the Blu-Ray a few months ago, really only because William Petersen is in it; loved him in Manhunter and on CSI.

I agree - squids probably don't scream.

-Bill, otherwise known as Kraichgauer