The Beyond (1981) ...E tu vivrai nel terrore! L'aldilà (original title)

Director:

Lucio Fulci

Writers:

Dardano Sacchetti (story)
Dardano Sacchetti (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

1 March 1983 (USA)

Genre:

Horror

Tagline:

Behind this doorway lie the terrifying and unspeakable secrets of hell. No one who sees it lives to describe it. And you shall live in darkness for all eternity.

Plot:

A young woman inherits an old hotel in Louisiana where after a series of supernatural 'accidents', she learns that the building was built over one of the entrances to Hell.

Plot Keywords:

Hotel | Hell | Doctor | Painter | Plumber

Cast

Catriona MacColl	...	Liza Merril (as Katherine MacColl)
David Warbeck	...	Dr. John McCabe
Cinzia Monreale	...	Emily (as Sarah Keller)
Antoine Saint-John	...	Schweick
Veronica Lazar	...	Martha
Anthony Flees	...	Larry
Giovanni De Nava	...	Joe the Plumber
Al Cliver	...	Dr. Harris
Michele Mirabella	...	Martin Avery
Gianpaolo Saccarola	...	Arthur (as Giampaolo Saccarola)
Maria Pia Marsala	...	Jill
Laura De Marchi	...	Mary-Ann
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Cicely Browne	...	Martha (voice: English version) (uncredited)
Roberto Dell'Acqua	...	Glass-Smashing Zombie (uncredited)
Lucio Fulci	...	Town Clerk (uncredited)
Gilberto Galimberti	...	Zombie (uncredited)
Dardano Sacchetti	...	Mob Member (uncredited)
Sergio Salvati	...	Mob Member (uncredited)

Directed by
Lucio Fulci

Writing credits
Dardano Sacchetti		(story)
Dardano Sacchetti		(screenplay) &
Giorgio Mariuzzo		(screenplay) &
Lucio Fulci		(screenplay)

Produced by
Fabrizio De Angelis	....	producer

Original Music by
Fabio Frizzi
Walter E. Sear		(U.S. version)

Cinematography by
Sergio Salvati

Film Editing by
Vincenzo Tomassi

Production Design by
Massimo Lentini

Costume Design by
Massimo Lentini

Makeup Department
Giannetto De Rossi	....	makeup artist
Luciana Palombi	....	hair stylist
Maurizio Trani	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Tullio Lullo	....	unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Roberto Giandalia	....	assistant director

Art Department
Alfredo D'Angelo	....	set dresser
Claudia Giammona	....	assistant designer
Franco Rinaldi	....	property assistant
Rodolfo Ruzza	....	property master

Sound Department
Ugo Celani	....	sound engineer
Enzo Diliberto	....	special sound effects
Eros Giustini	....	boom operator
Bruno Moreal	....	sound mixer

Special Effects by
Germano Natali	....	special effects

Stunts
Nazzareno Cardinali	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Franco Bruni	....	camera operator
Alberto Corchi	....	still photographer (as Alberto Cocchi)
Lamberto Del Bene	....	key grip
Alfredo Fedeli	....	chief electrician
Maurizio Lucchini	....	assistant camera

Editorial Department
Armando Pace	....	assistant editor
Pietro Tomassi	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Maurizio Guarini	....	musician: keyboards
Agostino Marangolo	....	musician: drums

Other crew
Rita Agostini	....	continuity

Production Companies

• Fulvia Film

Distributors

• Alemannia/Arabella Filmverleih GmbH (1981) (Germany) (theatrical) (dubbed)
• Union Générale Cinématographique (UGC) (1981) (France) (theatrical)
• Aquarius Releasing (1983) (USA) (theatrical) (cut version) (dubbed)
• Palace Explosive Video (1985) (Australia) (VHS)
• Thriller Video (1986) (USA) (VHS) (cut version) (as "7 Doors of Death")
• Astro (????) (USA) (theatrical)
• Creative Exposure (1998) (Canada) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Greater Union Organisation (GUO) (????) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Grindhouse Releasing (1998) (USA) (theatrical) (first uncut U.S. release) (dubbed)
• J.F. Films de Distribución S.A. (????) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Medusa Distribuzione (1981) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Rolling Thunder Pictures (1998) (USA) (theatrical) (dubbed) (second re-release, in collaboration with)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (2000) (USA) (DVD) (in collaboration with) (as Aquarius Video)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (2000) (USA) (VHS) (in collaboration with)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Another World Entertainment (2006) (Denmark) (DVD)
• Astro Distribution (2001) (Germany) (DVD)
• DMEG (2004) (Sweden) (VHS)
• Dado Group ((198?)) (Brazil) (VHS) (as "Terror nas Trevas")
• Diamond Entertainment Group (DEG) (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Firebox (2006) (Finland) (DVD)
• Grindhouse Releasing (2000) (USA) (DVD) (first uncut DVD release)
• Grindhouse Releasing (2000) (USA) (all media) (first uncut U.S. release)
• KOCH International (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Lamberto Forni Film (LF) (????) (Italy) (VHS)
• Reserva Especial (1998) (Brazil) (VHS) (as "A Casa do Além")
• Siren Visual Entertainment (2004) (Australia) (DVD)
• SlingShot Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• TGG Direct (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Video Instant Picture Company (VIPCO) (????) (UK) (DVD)
• Video Invest AB (????) (Sweden) (VHS)
• Video for Pleasure (VFP) (198?) (Netherlands) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Penta Studio (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Cinenoleggio  cameras and equipment provided by
• G.R.P.  set furnishings
• N.C.  sound studios
• New Orleans Film Commission, The  film commission
• Penta Studio  titles
• Rocchetti e Carboni  wigs
• Romana Trasporti Cinematografici S.r.l.  transportation
• S.A.F.A.S.  costumes
• Studio Sound  special sound effects

Also Known As:

"...E tu vivrai nel terrore! L'aldilà" - Italy (original title)
"Seven Doors of Death" - USA (censored version)

Runtime:

87 min | USA:80 min (R-rated version) | Korea:82 min (cut)

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian | English

Color:

Black and White (Sepia) | Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby (US version) | Mono (original version)

Certification:

Australia:R | France:-16 | Italy:VM18 | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R16 | Spain:18 | Sweden:18 (video rating) | West Germany:(Banned) | Norway:(Banned) (video rating) | Germany:BPjM Restricted | Finland:K-18 | UK:(Banned) (1984-1987) | UK:18 (re-rating: 1987) (cut) (re-rating: 2001) (uncut) | UK:X (original rating: 1981) (cut) | USA:R (heavily cut) | USA:Unrated (uncut) | Canada:16+ (Quebec) | West Germany:18 (original rating) | Germany:Not Rated (DVD rating) | Sweden:15 (uncut) | Italy:VM14 (DVD rating) | USA:X (original rating) | Portugal:M/18 | Canada:R (Ontario) | Hong Kong:III

Filming Locations:

Incir De Paolis Studios, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company:

Fulvia Film

Trivia:

Second part of Lucio Fulci's Death Trilogy also including City of the Living Dead (1980) and The House by the Cemetery (1981).

Goofs:

Errors in geography: This movie is set in the basement of a house in New Orleans, Louisiana. However, New Orleans is below sea level and no houses there have basements.

Quotes:

Dr. John McCabe:So, what did you do in the Big Apple?
Liza Merrill:Just about everything a girl could do without losing her good English breeding and reputation. Modeling, dancing, secretary... I almost became an unsuccessful fashion designer.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Eurotika!: Blood and Black Lace: A Short History of the Italian Horror Film (#1.3)" (1999)

Fulci's Masterpiece of Pure Imagery

L'Aldila/The Beyond(1981) is the film that brought interest in the cinema of Lucio Fulci. I became a big fan of his work after watching this movie. Have seen a good portion of his films since. The opening prologue is shot in a gorgeous sepia color. The murder/torture of Schweick represents the censorship and repression of the artist. Anchor Bay did a excellent job in the restoration of the film for DVD.

The chain whipping scene in it is a repeat of the one in Don't Torture a Duckling(1972). The chain whipping in The Beyond is much more gory. There are a couple of reasons why the chain whipping scene in Don't Torture a Duckling is more powerful and potent then in The Beyond. The scenes take place in natural settings. Goes for violent realism. The death of Maciara is depressing to watch.

L'Aldila(1981) was part of a trilogy called the 7 gates trilogy. This started with The Gates of Hell(1980), continued with this film, and was to end with The Beyond 2. Unfortunately, this trilogy would never be completed. This is a shame because I would have loved to see that film to know if it was good as the first two movies of the trilogy. The original intentions of The Beyond are different from the final results. This was because of budget and time restrictions. I wonder how much better the pic might have been with a modest budget and a little more time.

The make up effects is one of the film's best features. Despite the low budget, Giannetto De Rossi's effects are spectacular. The effects are done with flair and pizazz. Giannetto De Rossi did his best when working with Fulci. The effects for the death of Joe the Plumber are very good. The best effects in the film is the scene involving the young girl near the end.

The cinematography is spliced with atmosphere and style. Sergio Salvalti contributes to the film's gothic flavour. The cinematography contains a dreamish flow that makes the film beautiful. The score is one of my favourites for a horror film. The score fits perfectly with the scenes in the film. As good as anything done for Argento by Goblin.



The Beyond(1981) is an 'Absolute Film' where image and sound are the most important part of a film. On the making of this, Fulci once said, ("My idea was to make an absolute film, with all the horrors of the world. Its a plotless film, there's no logic to it, just a succession of images"). This is something that people who hate the film don't and will never understand. Many people do not like this because of its nonlinear structure. He also said, "In Italy we make films based on pure themes, without a plot and The Beyond like Inferno refuses conventions...people who blame the The Beyond for its lack of story don't understand that it's a film of images, which must be received without any reflection". Receiving a movie like this without any reflection is a hard thing for many film goers to do.

The works of Antonin Artoud and H.P Lovecraft play a major influence on The Beyond(1981). Fulci was inspired by this controversial French artist. The ideas of Artoud are present in most of Fulci's work. Schweick the painter bears a little resemblence to Antonin Artoud. Artoud was the founder of "The Theater of Cruelty" which talked to "Restore to the theater a passionate and convulsive conception of life, and it is in this sense of violent rigor and extreme condensation of scenic elements that the cruelty on which it is based on must be understood". This idea can be applied to The Cinema and this film.

The comment "Violence is Italian Art" by Fulci is relative to the movie and the history of Italian art. Its one of the few films where atmosphere and gore mix well together. Has good moments of spirital horror. The atmosphere is eerie and terrifying. The gory set pieces are satisfying. The surreal atmosphere and bloody imagery is what makes the film a classic.

The Beyond would influence many later American and Italian horror flicks. One, The Evil Dead(1983). Two, Hellraiser(1987). Three, Hellbound:Hellraiser 2(1988). Four, The Church(1990). Finally, Dellamorte Dellamore(1996).

The Beyond(1981) will never be a mainstream favourite because its not for everyone. The themes are well written by Dardano Sacchetti. Catriona MacColl and David Warbeck are very good in the roles of the heroine and hero. Veronica Lazar from Inferno(1980) is sinister as Martha. The director did a great job with the little resources that he had to work with. The ending will haunt your dreams for days to come.