The Beyond
Directed by Lucio Fulci
Written by Dardano Sacchetti, Giorgio Mariuzzo, and Lucio Fulci
Italy, 1981
While he may not have the name recognition of George Romero or Wes Craven, Lucio Fulci has had a singular impact on the horror genre. And though his work doesn’t lend itself to the sort of pop culture familiarity that unites these and other more mainstream horror directors, what he did best within the genre, he did as well as any other filmmaker. His was a down and dirty horror: grisly, textured, elaborate, graphic. And arguably his finest achievement, certainly one that perfectly showcases his style and skill, is The Beyond (1981), out now on an extensive 3-disc collectors edition Blu-ray.
The Beyond begins in 1927 Louisiana, where the basic premise of portentous evil lurking near seven doors to hell is established. Upon one of those gateways sits an old gothic hotel, which in the present day,...
Directed by Lucio Fulci
Written by Dardano Sacchetti, Giorgio Mariuzzo, and Lucio Fulci
Italy, 1981
While he may not have the name recognition of George Romero or Wes Craven, Lucio Fulci has had a singular impact on the horror genre. And though his work doesn’t lend itself to the sort of pop culture familiarity that unites these and other more mainstream horror directors, what he did best within the genre, he did as well as any other filmmaker. His was a down and dirty horror: grisly, textured, elaborate, graphic. And arguably his finest achievement, certainly one that perfectly showcases his style and skill, is The Beyond (1981), out now on an extensive 3-disc collectors edition Blu-ray.
The Beyond begins in 1927 Louisiana, where the basic premise of portentous evil lurking near seven doors to hell is established. Upon one of those gateways sits an old gothic hotel, which in the present day,...
- 4/7/2015
- by Jeremy Carr
- SoundOnSight
When Lucio Fulci concluded The Beyond with the words "And you will face the sea of darkness, and all therein that may be explored", he might as well have been referring to the banner year of 1981.
Whatever your genre poison, 1981 delivered it in spades. Werewolves ruled the box office with films that not only redefined special effects artistry but remain stellar examples of modern lycanthropic horror – even today. Elsewhere, Satan's son reared his ugly head for a final conflict while David Cronenberg explored factions of warring psychics with Scanners. Sam Raimi's Candarian demons were unleashed in a Tennessee cabin while seemingly endless droves of slashers stalked theaters across the country. Wes Craven doled out one hell of a Deadly Blessing while The Boogens broke free from a Colorado silver mine, endearing themselves to a whole band of cult aficionados who've remained loyal to a film that, thirty years later,...
Whatever your genre poison, 1981 delivered it in spades. Werewolves ruled the box office with films that not only redefined special effects artistry but remain stellar examples of modern lycanthropic horror – even today. Elsewhere, Satan's son reared his ugly head for a final conflict while David Cronenberg explored factions of warring psychics with Scanners. Sam Raimi's Candarian demons were unleashed in a Tennessee cabin while seemingly endless droves of slashers stalked theaters across the country. Wes Craven doled out one hell of a Deadly Blessing while The Boogens broke free from a Colorado silver mine, endearing themselves to a whole band of cult aficionados who've remained loyal to a film that, thirty years later,...
- 6/14/2011
- by Masked Slasher
- DreadCentral.com
A frequent topper of ‘goriest moments’ lists, Italian splatter merchant Lucio Fulci is rarely treated with much critical regard. Probably best known for eye-gouging Dawn of the Dead (1978) rip-off Zombie Flesh Eaters (1979), Fulci, often overlooked in favour of arch Giallo stylist Dario Argento
, is seen as less of an artist and more of a schlock-monger. What most critics have missed, however, is the astounding artistry of schlock-mongering.The Beyond (1981) marked a tonal shift in Fucli’s work, the director strikingly moving towards a more nightmarish anti-narrative, disregarding conventional structure and practically launching at the viewer a fractured collection of supernatural set-pieces that formally bear similarity to Hitchcock’s desire for a ‘pure’ cinematic sensibility – one of a wholly visual communication of plot, character and ideology.
The second in Fulci’s Gates of Hell trilogy (preceded by City of the Living Dead (1980) and followed by House by the Cemetery (1981), both on...
, is seen as less of an artist and more of a schlock-monger. What most critics have missed, however, is the astounding artistry of schlock-mongering.The Beyond (1981) marked a tonal shift in Fucli’s work, the director strikingly moving towards a more nightmarish anti-narrative, disregarding conventional structure and practically launching at the viewer a fractured collection of supernatural set-pieces that formally bear similarity to Hitchcock’s desire for a ‘pure’ cinematic sensibility – one of a wholly visual communication of plot, character and ideology.
The second in Fulci’s Gates of Hell trilogy (preceded by City of the Living Dead (1980) and followed by House by the Cemetery (1981), both on...
- 3/23/2011
- by Matt Groizard
- CineVue
Plumbers can make a hash of most jobs but the luckless chap in Lucio Fulci’s gory masterpiece, The Beyond, accidentally opens one of the seven gates of Hell. Obviously not the best move to have made.
The infamous Italian maestro worked in a variety of genres throughout his long career but made his true name in horror with several frightening (and frighteningly great) titles of which The Beyond is one. Mixing up the living dead and inspired splatter scenes with a dream-like scenario works wonders for this genuinely unsettling film.
The premise centres on Liza (Catriona MacColl), a young woman who inherits a spooky mansion in New Orleans which also happens to be built on a sacred gate leading to Hell. Once the portal is re-opened by the plumber – who subsequently gets murdered for his trouble – the collapse of logic and reason ensues to spectacular effect.
Arrow Video once...
The infamous Italian maestro worked in a variety of genres throughout his long career but made his true name in horror with several frightening (and frighteningly great) titles of which The Beyond is one. Mixing up the living dead and inspired splatter scenes with a dream-like scenario works wonders for this genuinely unsettling film.
The premise centres on Liza (Catriona MacColl), a young woman who inherits a spooky mansion in New Orleans which also happens to be built on a sacred gate leading to Hell. Once the portal is re-opened by the plumber – who subsequently gets murdered for his trouble – the collapse of logic and reason ensues to spectacular effect.
Arrow Video once...
- 3/13/2011
- by Martyn Conterio
- FilmShaft.com
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