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The Day of the Beast
El día de la bestia
1995 104 min Italy, Spain R 18+
★7.3
Horror, Comedy, Action
Director: Álex de la Iglesia
Trailers
Description
When a rogue priest discovers the exact date the Antichrist will be born, he enlists a Death Metal record store clerk and a cheesy TV psychic for an urban spree of gore, sacrilege and twisted humor to prevent the Apocalypse.
Worldwide:
$4.37M
Starring
Álex Angulo
Actor
Armando De Razza
Actor
Santiago Segura
Actor
Awards
Goya Awards 1996
— Best Makeup and Hairstyling
Goya Awards 1996
— Best Director
Goya Awards 1996
— Best Sound
Goya Awards 1996
— Best Makeup and Hairstyling
Goya Awards 1996
— Best Director
Goya Awards 1996
— Best Sound
Goya Awards 1996
— Best Visual Effects
Goya Awards 1996
— Best Production Design
Goya Awards 1996
— Best Actor
Goya Awards 1996
— Best Picture
Goya Awards 1996
— Best Cinematography
Goya Awards 1996
— Best Debut
Goya Awards 1996
— Best Original Screenplay
Goya Awards 1996
— Best Costume Design
Key opinion
El día de la bestia is widely recognized as a bold, genre-bending black comedy that captures a unique apocalyptic atmosphere in Madrid. While supporters praise its chaotic energy and thematic depth, detractors find its specific brand of grotesque humor and low-budget aesthetic polarizing.
| Originality | The film succeeds as a distinctive blend of dark comedy, satire, and horror, creating an experience that defies traditional genre categorization. | |
| Production | The chaotic depiction of Madrid landmarks and the intense, frantic pace effectively underscore the film's apocalyptic stakes. | |
| Theme | The protagonists undergo significant narrative arcs, evolving from archetypal grotesques into a cohesive, meaningful trio. | |
| Cinematography | The technical execution is divisive; some viewers appreciate the raw, atmospheric grit, while others perceive it as amateurish and poorly lit. | |
| Acting | Performances are a subject of disagreement: some find the characterizations vivid and charismatic, whereas others label the acting as mediocre or bizarrely stiff. | |
| Humor | The humor is polarizing, with supporters enjoying its absurdist, ironic European sensibility, while critics find it sparse, cruel, or difficult to connect with. |