Bearskin, or The Man Who Didn't Wash for Seven Years 1984
In this hauntingly poetic short film from 1984, director Tom Davenport adapts a dark folktale about despair and diabolical bargains.
Director: Tom Davenport
Cast
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Bearskin, or The Man Who Didn't Wash for Seven Years (1984) about?
This dark fairy-tale short centers on a war-weary soldier who, after being rejected by society, strikes a dangerous bargain with the Devil. In exchange for a bottomless purse of gold, he agrees to live as a wild, unkempt outcast for seven years, cut off from all human comforts. It's a gripping tale of moral compromise and the price of survival.
Who directed Bearskin, or The Man Who Didn't Wash for Seven Years?
The film was directed by Tom Davenport, a filmmaker known for adapting classic folklore into evocative short films.
Who stars in Bearskin, or The Man Who Didn't Wash for Seven Years?
The cast includes Glenn Taylor as the soldier, alongside Helen Stoltzfus, Kate Weber, Susan Shields, and Robert Lesko.
Is Bearskin, or The Man Who Didn't Wash for Seven Years (1984) worth watching?
While it's a short film with limited commercial release, *Bearskin* offers a unique blend of folk horror and allegory that makes it intriguing for fans of unconventional storytelling. Its dark themes and atmospheric tone give it a cult appeal, especially among those who appreciate classic folk tales reimagined on screen.
How long is Bearskin, or The Man Who Didn't Wash for Seven Years?
The runtime is 19 minutes.
About Bearskin, or The Man Who Didn't Wash for Seven Years (1984) — Folk horror short film full cast and details
In this hauntingly poetic short film from 1984, director Tom Davenport adapts a dark folktale about despair and diabolical bargains. *Bearskin, or The Man Who Didn't Wash for Seven Years* follows a disillusioned soldier, Glenn Taylor, whose return from war leaves him adrift in a world that feels foreign and unwelcoming. With no home to return to and no work to be found, he stumbles into a fateful pact with the Devil—a gamble that promises wealth but demands unthinkable sacrifice. Dressed in a tattered bearskin, forbidden from prayer, washing, or cutting his hair, he must endure seven years of isolation and squalor, all while clinging to a purse that never empties. The film weaves themes of loneliness, temptation, and the cost of survival into a visually striking, allegorical tale that lingers long after the credits roll.
Atmospherically rich and steeped in European folk horror, *Bearskin* blends the macabre with moments of unexpected tenderness, particularly in the performances of Helen Stoltzfus and Kate Weber as figures who briefly light his path. Davenport's direction leans into the visual contrast between beauty and decay, making the film as thought-provoking as it is unsettling. It's a compact yet powerful exploration of what it means to sell one's soul—and whether redemption is ever truly possible.