Blind Beast

Blind Beast (盲獣, Mōjū), aka Moju the Blind Beast^[1] is a 1969 Japanese film directed by Yasuzo Masumura. It is based on a novel by Edogawa Rampo.^[2]

Blind Beast
Original Japanese release poster
Directed by	Yasuzo Masumura
Screenplay by	Yoshio Shirasoka[1]
Based on	Moju by Rampo Edogawa
Produced by	Kazumasa Nakano[1]
Starring	Eiji Funakoshi Mako Midori Noriko Sengoku
Cinematography	Setsuo Kobayashi[1]
Music by	Hikaru Hayashi[1]
Production company	Daiei Film[1]
Release date	25 January 1969 (1969-01-25) (Japan)
Running time	86 minutes
Country	Japan
Language	Japanese

Plot

Young aspiring model Aki Shima (Mako Midori) is abducted by Michio Sofu (Eiji Funakoshi), a blind sculptor whose obsession with creating the ultimate masterpiece drives him to extreme lengths. Michio takes Aki to his secluded warehouse, a surreal and grotesque space filled with massive sculptures of human body parts and female figures. The warehouse serves as both his home and his studio, embodying his distorted perception of beauty and art. Initially, Aki is horrified and resistant, struggling against her captor's demands as he forces her to pose for his work. Michio reveals his ambition to use her as the ultimate muse for his masterpiece, believing that only through her can he achieve his artistic vision.

As Aki remains in captivity, her initial terror begins to give way to a complex mixture of emotions. She becomes intrigued by Michio's passion and dedication to his art, despite the disturbing nature of his work. Their relationship evolves into a twisted and deeply unsettling dynamic, marked by a blend of power, control, and mutual fascination. The two engage in increasingly intense and sadomasochistic games, blurring the boundaries between love, obsession, and artistic expression.

Over time, Aki undergoes a transformation, becoming enraptured by Michio's vision and his world of art. She begins to see herself not just as a victim but as an integral part of his creative process. In a chilling moment of surrender, Aki expresses her desire to transcend her role as a mere muse and become the artwork itself. This leads to a horrifying climax in which Michio, driven by both love and obsession, kills and dismembers Aki, using her body to create his ultimate sculpture—a macabre and grotesque testament to his artistic ambition.

Having completed what he considers his life's work, Michio is overcome by despair and emptiness. Realizing that his artistic journey has reached its end, he takes his own life, leaving behind a haunting legacy of his descent into madness. The film closes with the eerie silence of the warehouse, now a tomb for both the artist and his muse, their lives consumed by the dark and all-consuming pursuit of art.

Cast

• Eiji Funakoshi as Michio Sofu
• Mako Midori as Aki Shima
• Noriko Sengoku as Shino, Michio's mother

Release

Blind Beast was released in Japan on January 25, 1969.^[1][3] The film was released by Daiei International Film with English subtitles in April 1969.^[1] It was reissued by Roninfilm under the title Warehouse in February 1974.^[1] It was released to Blu-ray in the United States from Arrow Films on August 24, 2021.^[4]

Reception

In a contemporary review, Variety praised the cinematography and Shigeo Mano's art direction, while noting that his previous films dealt with sexuality such as Daini no Seo and Manji but "these are kindergarten material compared with The Blind Beast...it's a sick film."^[5]

Retrospective reviews include critic Jasper Sharp calling it "One of the most fascinatingly freakish of all the big screen adaptations of the works of Japanese mystery writer Edogawa Rampo".^[6] Tom Vick of AllMovie compared the film to The Collector and opined that "Masumura, a master of dark humor and macabre psychodrama, strikes an odd balance between silliness and horror throughout the film. One of the nuttier entries in his oeuvre, Blind Beast is a delicious guilty pleasure."^[7] Sight & Sound referred to the film as a "fascinating curiosity" with "bizarre production design, tendency towards outlandish symbolism and eccentric performances, it seems at least partly tongue in cheek even at its most extreme."^[8]

See also

• List of Japanese films of 1969