From Beyond the Grave (1974)

An anthology of four short horror stories revolving around a mysterious antique shop owner and his antique pieces, each of which hides a deadly secret.

Director:

Kevin Connor

Writers:

Robin Clarke (screenplay), Raymond Christodoulou (screenplay)

Stars:

Peter Cushing, Ian Bannen, Ian Carmichael

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ian Bannen	...	Christopher Lowe (Segment 2 "An Act of Kindness")
Ian Carmichael	...	Reginald Warren (Segment 3 "The Elemental")
Peter Cushing	...	The Proprietor
Diana Dors	...	Mabel Lowe (Segment 2 "An Act of Kindness")
Margaret Leighton	...	Madame Orloff (Segment 3 "The Elemental")
Donald Pleasence	...	Jim Underwood (Segment 2 "An Act of Kindness")
Nyree Dawn Porter	...	Susan Warren (Segment 3 "The Elemental")
David Warner	...	Edward Charlton (Segment 1 "The Gate Crasher")
Ian Ogilvy	...	William Seaton (Segment 4 "The Door")
Lesley-Anne Down	...	Rosemary Seaton (Segment 4 "The Door") (as Lesley Anne Down)
Jack Watson	...	Sir Michael Sinclair (Segment 4 "The Door")
Angela Pleasence	...	Emily Underwood (Segment 2 "An Act of Kindness")
Wendy Allnutt	...	Pamela (Segment 1 "The Gate Crasher")
Rosalind Ayres	...	Prostitute - Edward's First Victim (Segment 1 "The Gate Crasher")
Tommy Godfrey	...	Mr. Jeffries (Segment 1 "The Gate Crasher")

Storyline

Anthology film from Amicus adapted from four short stories by R. Chetwynd-Hayes strung together about an antique dealer who owns a shop called Temptations Ltd. and the fate that befalls his customers who try to cheat him. Stories include "The Gate Crasher" with David Warner who frees an evil entity from an antique mirror, "An Act of Kindness" featuring Donald Pleasence, "The Elemental", and "The Door".

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Plot Keywords:

horror anthology | seance | spiritualist | ghost | shop owner | 

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Taglines:

Terror to delight worshippers of the Macabre.

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Genres:

Fantasy | Horror

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

Although the film was granted a '15' certificate for video in 1987 by the BBFC in the UK, there is no evidence that Warner Home Video actually released this film on any media in the UK until the DVD release in 2007. Indeed, the film was once slated to form part of Warner's 1995 UK 'Terror Vision The Crypt Collection' with a proposed release date of 30 October 1995 quoted in some release catalogs inserted into the collection's earlier releases but this release never materialized until in 2007 it was released in the UK on DVD.

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Goofs

After the bat falls on the Burglar, there is an hourglass in the foreground with most of the sand in the top. In the next shot, all the sand is in the bottom.

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Quotes

William Seaton (Segment 4 "The Door"): Rosemary, the door! Smash it! Smash the door.

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Connections

Follows Asylum (1972)

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Soundtracks

The Wedding March
(uncredited)
By Felix Mendelssohn

User Reviews

Entertaining and genuinely shocking British horror

From Beyond the Grave could have gone either way in quality. It could have a clever, atmospherically effective and well acted film or predictable schlock, luckily From Beyond the Grave belongs in the former category and of the anthology horror films it's one of the better ones. The third story The Elemental lacks the atmosphere of the other three stories and there are things throughout that could have gone into detail a little more, some good ideas here but could have had more explanation. From Beyond the Grave may not be big in budget but it actually looks competent and nicely made, it doesn't look slipshod and the lighting and settings are quite atmospheric. The music is appropriately spooky and doesn't overbear things, the direction keeps things moving swiftly but with time to breathe also and the film is very smartly scripted. Not masterpiece-status, but it doesn't try to be and always entertains, which is much more important. The stories are atmospheric and are effective in creepiness, while things could have had more explanation things are at least coherent and you are always engrossed. Of the four stories, the best is the second, fun and genuinely chilling stuff. The acting is very good, especially Margaret Leighton, Donald Pleasance, Peter Cushing and David Warner, nobody disgraces themselves. In conclusion, entertaining and scary, pretty darn good. 8/10 Bethany Cox

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 November 1975 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Creatures from Beyond the Grave

Filming Locations:

Shepperton Studios, Studios Road, Shepperton, Surrey, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Amicus Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1