1969 Film Editorial note

Blind Beast

Original title: 盲獣

Also known as Moju

Language Japanese

Subtitles English

Arrow Video Blu-ray edition.

An artist's model is abducted by a blind sculptor who wants her as the subject of his work. Yasuzo Masumura's adaptation of Edogawa Rampo moves from a photographic exhibition to an enclosed studio dominated by monumental representations of the body.

The opening exhibition presents bondage photographs of the model, making this a specific example of rope imagery within postwar Japanese art cinema. Its exploration of captivity, touch and artistic possession belongs to visual-cultural history, not practical instruction.

Arrow Video home-video cover of Blind Beast (1969)
Home-video cover via Arrow Video · arrowvideo.com Image rights

People & projects

  • Masumura Yasuzo 増村保造 director
  • Edogawa Rampo 江戸川乱歩 original story
  • Midori Mako 緑魔子 cast
  • Funakoshi Eiji 船越英二 cast
  • Shirasaka Yoshio 白坂依志夫 screenwriter
  • Sengoku Noriko 千石規子 cast

Linked names open Atlas profiles.

Context & sources

Context & sources 3