The Spirit of the Beehive (1973)
Kernel Score: 86% · 389 ratings
Genres: Drama, Fantasy
Released: 1973-10-08
Runtime: 98 minutes
Where to watch The Spirit of the Beehive
- Stream: The Criterion Channel
- Rent: Fandango At Home
- Buy: Fandango At Home
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
In 1940, in the immediate aftermath of the Spanish Civil War, a young girl living on the Castilian plain is haunted after attending a screening of James Whale's 1931 film Frankenstein and hearing from her sister that the monster is not dead, instead existing as a spirit inhabiting a nearby barn.
The Spirit of the Beehive parents' guide: ages 8+
Parents need to know that The Spirit of the Beehive is an unrated 1973 Spanish drama-fantasy about a young girl haunted by imagery from Frankenstein in the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War, atmospheric and unsettling rather than graphic.
- Violence & scariness: A little — Set after the Spanish Civil War, the film includes unsettling, atmospheric imagery of a monster but no graphic violence.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like The Spirit of the Beehive
If you liked The Spirit of the Beehive, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Pan's Labyrinth (2006) — 87%
- Butterfly (1999) — 82%
- The Photographer of Mauthausen (2018) — 76%
- Room (2015) — 89%
- The Machinist (2004) — 84%
- The Lighthouse (2019) — 86%
- Young Frankenstein (1974) — 88%
- Bunny Lake Is Missing (1965) — 80%
Director
Víctor Erice
Cast
- Fernando Fernán Gómez as Fernando
- Teresa Gimpera as Teresa
- Ana Torrent as Ana
- Isabel Tellería as Isabel
- Laly Soldevila as Doña Lucía
- Miguel Picazo as Médico
- José Villasante as Frankenstein
- Juan Margallo as Fugitivo
- Estanis González as Guardia civil
- Ketty de la Cámara as Milagros, la criada
The Spirit of the Beehive FAQ
Is The Spirit of the Beehive good?
The Spirit of the Beehive has an 86% Kernel Score on Fresh Kernels from 389 audience ratings.
Where can I watch The Spirit of the Beehive?
In the US you can stream The Spirit of the Beehive on The Criterion Channel and rent it from Fandango At Home.
Is The Spirit of the Beehive OK for kids?
Fresh Kernels suggests ages 8+. Parents need to know that The Spirit of the Beehive is an unrated 1973 Spanish drama-fantasy about a young girl haunted by imagery from Frankenstein in the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War, atmospheric and unsettling rather than graphic.
What movies are like The Spirit of the Beehive?
If you liked The Spirit of the Beehive, try Pan's Labyrinth, Butterfly, The Photographer of Mauthausen and Room.