The Beast (1996) (TV)

Director:

Jeff Bleckner

Writers (WGA):

Peter Benchley (novel)
J.B. White (teleplay)

Release Date:

28 April 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Drama | Thriller

Plot:

Mysterious things happen at the coast of Graves Point: An empty boat lies at the shore, divers vanish. The sea biologist Dr. Talley thinks he knows the solution of the mystery: In the depth there is a gigantic squid.

Plot Keywords:

Squid | Architeuthis | Helicopter | Giant Squid | Sea

Awards:

Nominated for Primetime Emmy. Another 1 nomination

Cast

William Petersen	...	Whip Dalton
Karen Sillas	...	Lt. Kathryn Marcus
Charles Martin Smith	...	Schuyler Graves
Ronald Guttman	...	Dr. Herbert Talley
Missy Crider	...	Dana Dalton
Sterling Macer Jr.	...	Mike Newcombe
Denis Arndt	...	Osborne Manning
A.J. Johnson	...	Nell Newcombe (as Adrienne-Joi Johnson)
Larry Drake	...	Lucas Coven
Murray Bartlett	...	Christopher Lane
Laura Vazquez	...	Hadley
Robert Mammone	...	Ensign Raines
David Webb	...	Jameson
Marshall Napier	...	Commander Wallingford
Les Hill	...	Spike

Also Known As:

Peter Benchley's The Beast

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some violence and terror.

Runtime:

180 min (3 parts) | Germany:186 min (uncut version) | Germany:83 min (cut version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Australia

Company:

Dan Wigutow Productions

Trivia:

Port Angeles, the town that Howard & Elizabeth Griffin ('Chad Tyler’ & 'Angie Milliken’ ) called from the "Occupational Hazard" is on the Olympic Peninsula of Washington, across the Juan de Fuca Strait from Victoria, the capital of British Columbia. A major fault line runs along the middle of the strait, with the result that the two cities are on different tectonic plates.

Goofs:

Factual errors: The squid emits ink when attacking its victims. Squids only emit ink defensively when fleeing.

Quotes:

Whip Dalton: You go out and you try and kill it but just so you understand exactly what it is you're dealing with beside it's eight huge tentacles this thing has two whips. Each one is probably as long as this room and three or four feet thick. Those whips are covered with suction cup as big as this notepad...

Movie Connections:

References The Terminator (1984)

What's the problem?

Very good version of Peter Benchley's novel 'Beast' about the arrival of a giant squid and the danger it presents to a small fishing community. Obvious references to Benchley's far more successful 'Jaws abound but the story remains as strong as ever, humans going up against a seemingly unstoppable sea creature to which anything but mortal fear would be an unusual reaction. While I personally disagree with a few of the editing decisions no one can deny that Charles Martin Smith's Graves is a better character than in the book and that William Peterson is perfectly cast as the hero Whip Dalton. Anyone who has read the book will be able to accept the smooth changes along with the rough and believe that this is a far-above average adaptation of any simple novel, especially one destined merely for TV.