The Force Beyond (1978)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

William Sachs

Writers:

Barbara Morris Davison (the book "Secrets of the Gods adapted from the film") and
Donn Davison (writer)

Genre:

Documentary

Tagline:

Countless centuries ago are forebearers left this planet and traveled to the edges of the universe...--Now they want it back!

Plot Keywords:

Psychic | Sasquatch | UFO | Bigfoot | Paranormal

Cast

Orson Welles	...	Himself (commenting on The War of the Worlds radio broadcast) (archive footage)
Donn Davison	...	Host
Rosko	...	Narrator (voice)
Captain Gerald Noven	...	Pilot, Eastern Airlines
Don Elkins	...	Physicist (as Professor Donald Elkins)
Michael C. Heleus	...	Mathematician
Ed Herlihy	...	Newsreel Voice (voice) (archive sound)
George Wald	...	Nobel Prize Winning Biologist (as Professor George Wald)
Peter Byrne	...	Bigfoot Expert
Rene Dahinden	...	Bigfoot Expert
Count Peter Turrolla	...	Archaeologist (South America)
Anonymous Lawyer	...	Filmmaker, Bigfoot Film (voice)
Peter Tompkins
Jack Horkheimer	...	Director, Space Transit Planetarium, Miami
Frances Farrelly	...	Psychic Medical Diagnostician

Runtime:

85 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Ukrainian

Color:

Color

Certification:

USA:G

Company:

Institute of Other World Phenomena

Movie Connections:

Featured in Dusk to Dawn Drive-In Trash-o-Rama Show Vol. 2 (1996) (V)

May "The Force Beyond" be with you!

A "Z-grade" film in the tradition of Chariots of the Gods. The seventies spawned several other wanna-be speculation documentaries (Outer Space Connection, In Search of Noah's Ark, Amazing World of Ghosts), all of which sought to answer man's most troubling historical mysteries, as well as to tackle many a modern riddle. From Aliens, to Automatic Writing, from U.F.O.s to E.S.P, each of these films did it's part to excite and dismay its audience. The Force beyond is a latecomer, and as such is perhaps the most ridiculous of the whole bunch. In any case, a genre is born.

The Force Beyond promises proof that aliens exist and that the film's Director, a modern day P.T. Barnum, is going to show us the evidence at some time later in the film. While we wait we are treated to a young man recalling dreams sent to him via remote sender who seems to be a psychic of some repute. Soon this is followed by regression therapy (chilling) and with the liberal padding of stock footage (the hallmark of the Genre) a bit of U.F.O. footage is shown to "prove" the existence of life in the universe other than our own. Or is it?

This is an amazing film. But not for the reason it is supposed to be, which is the definition for a cult classic. Unfortunately this film does not quite qualify. To be a cult classic, you need a cult. If this film has a cult I would shudder to meet it's leader.

This film is recommended highly for those who love the films of Sun Classic.