Beauty and the Beast

This month's film STASHED at FACT is gothic, beautiful and atmospheric.

If you like Nosferatu (1922 or 2025), Pan's Labyrinth (2006) and Frankenstein (2025), this film may be for you!Join us on Wednesday 14 October 2026 and prepare to be gripped by the gothic, as we dip into the STASHED haunted treasure chest of films to find a macabre fairy-tale adaptation you've probably never heard of.Panna a netvor (1978), meaning 'The Virgin and the Monster' in its original Czech, is a dark and atmospheric retelling of the classic 1740 fairy-tale, Beauty and the Beast (La Belle et la Bete).

This adaptation follows most of the same narrative beats of the original: a brave and beautiful young woman sacrifices herself to save her father from a hideous beast by becoming a prisoner within its castle.

However, it's not long until you realise this isn't the familiar heartwarming tale of true beauty being within.Tl;Dr? Forget whimsical singing furniture.

This fairy-tale horror is more like 'beauty and the very real impending danger.'Director Juraj Herz, one of Slovakia's most subversive filmmakers known for creating highly stylised films, fully leans into the story's psychological horror.

The 'beast' is no longer just how he looks, but also the violent voice in his head that urges him to drink the blood of Julie, the captured beauty.

The traditional furry lion-esque appearance of other adaptations has been replaced by a haunting half-man, half-bird creature, with feathers and talons.

There is still a slow-burning tenderness between the main characters, but the looming threat of the beast's inner demons taking over adds a real sense of tension to the tale.Expect equal parts unsettling and enchanting, wrapped in a hazy, almost dream-like aesthetic.

Herz' vision of Beauty and the Beast is as beautiful as it is chilling.Excited to see Wicker this October? Our Young Film Programmer group chose Beauty and the Beast because it's one of the most compelling woman-meets-monster films ever created, and it's the perfect pre-Wicker watch to get you in the monster romance mood before its release on 30 October.This screening takes place in The Box on the ground floor at FACT and is fully wheelchair accessible.

We can accommodate up to 50 wheelchair users for this event.

If you are a wheelchair user, please let us know when booking your ticket so we can ensure the space is set up appropriately.If you have any accessibility requirements, please inform us by emailing events@fact.co.uk.You can also find information about FACT's accessibility on our website here: fact.co.uk/accessibility or use our Visual Story to prepare for your visit.Free tickets for CEA or Nimbus Card holders are available from the FACT Welcome Desk or on the door at the time of the event.

One free ticket per card holder.