The Beyond (1981)

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

Director:

Lucio Fulci

Writers:

Dardano Sacchetti (story), Dardano Sacchetti (screenplay)

Stars:

Catriona MacColl, David Warbeck, Cinzia Monreale

Cast

Complete credited 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
Larry Ray	...	Larry (as Anthony Flees)
Giovanni De Nava	...	Joe the Plumber (credit only)
Al Cliver	...	Dr. Harris
Michele Mirabella	...	Martin Avery
Giampaolo Saccarola	...	Arthur
Maria Pia Marsala	...	Jill
Laura De Marchi	...	Mary-Ann

Storyline

The cellar of an old hotel is built on top of the door to the beyond. Bloody zombies roam there. A young woman who is heir of the hotel wants to restaurate it. She is confronted with strange events. A painter has a lethal fall, the plumber vanishes and her friend breaks his neck. When she escapes to the hospital of a friendly doctor she doesn't know what a nightmare is waiting there...

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Plot Keywords:

hell | blindness | tarantula | surrealism | eye gouging | 

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Taglines:

The flesh-craving undead return to the land of the living and raise a little hell of their own...

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Genres:

Horror

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

Larry Ray, who plays the window cleaner, was head of the Louisiana Film Commission at the time.

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Goofs

When the corpse of the artist is in the autopsy room you can clearly see it blink.

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Quotes

Liza Merrill: How long will it take?
Joe: It'll take as long as it takes.

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Crazy Credits

Just after the credits, when the screen turns black, a scream is heard.

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Alternate Versions

The banned german theatical version is the only version that has a coloured Precredit sequence. The same version was released on video by Video Medien Pool (VMP) in 1982. Unfortunately it was banned on February, 27th, 1986. So officially it's not longer availible exept for a cut version named "Über dem Jenseits" (approx. 65 Min.!).

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Connections

Referenced in Demonia (1990)

User Reviews

When the Gates of Hell Are Open, Deads Walk on Earth

The New Yorker Liza Merril (Katherine MacColl) inherits an old hotel in Louisiana, and invests her savings to reopen the place. While repairing the building, many people dies, and local Dr. John McCabe (David Warbeck) feels close to Liza and tries to help her to solve the mystery of the hotel. Meanwhile, Emily (Sarah Keller), a blind woman, advises Liza to leave the place as soon as possible.

"Seven Doors of Death" is a frightening horror movie from the master of the genre Lucio Fulci. The special effects and makeup used for the horrible deaths are amazing, as well as the movements of the camera. The scary story has an unexpected surprising twist in the very end and certainly this movie may be considered one of the best movies of horror ever. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "A Casa do Além (VHS)" ("The House from Beyond")

Note: On 05 August 2014, I saw this movie again on DVD.

On 09 June 2015, I saw this movie again on DVD ( "Terror nas Trevas").

Details

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

11 November 1983 (USA)

Also Known As:

Seven Doors of Death

Filming Locations:

Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$400,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$18,148, 14 June 1998

Gross USA:

$123,843

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$123,843

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fulvia Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min 80 min (R-rated) 82 min (cut)

Sound Mix:

Dolby (US version) Mono (original version)

Color:

Color (Technicolor) Black and White (Sepia)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1