From Beyond (1986)

A group of scientists have developed the Resonator, a machine which allows whoever is within range to see beyond normal perceptible reality. But when the experiment succeeds, they are immediately attacked by terrible life forms.

Director:

Stuart Gordon

Writers:

H.P. Lovecraft (short story), Brian Yuzna (adaptation)

Stars:

Jeffrey Combs, Barbara Crampton, Ted Sorel

3 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Jeffrey Combs	...	Crawford Tillinghast
Barbara Crampton	...	Dr. Katherine McMichaels
Ted Sorel	...	Dr. Edward Pretorius
Ken Foree	...	Bubba Brownlee
Carolyn Purdy-Gordon	...	Dr. Bloch
Bunny Summers	...	Neighbor Lady
Bruce McGuire	...	Jordan Fields
Del Russel	...	Ambulance Driver
Dale Wyatt	...	Paramedic
Karen Christenfeld	...	Nurse
Andy Miller	...	Patient - Strait Jacket
John Leamer	...	Shock Technician
Regina Bleesz	...	Bondage Girl

Storyline

Dr. Edward Pretorius and his assistant, the physician Crawford Tillinghast, have developed the Resonator, a machine to stimulate the sixth sense through the pineal gland. When Crawford activates the apparatus, he sees creatures flying in the air and he summons Dr. Pretorius. The experiment goes out of control and Dr. Pretorius refuses to turn off the Resonator. Meanwhile their neighbor calls the police, and when the police officers arrive, they see Crawford trying to escape from his house and Dr. Pretorius beheaded. Crawford is sent to a mental institution under the supervision of the sadistic Dr. Bloch. However, the prominent psychiatrist Dr. Katherine McMichaels requests the custody of Crawford and Detective Bubba Brownlee that is investigating the case stays with them. Katherine goes with Crawford and Bubba to see the Resonator and turns the machine on. Dr. Pretorius returns in a mutant shape and attacks them, in the beginning of a gore night with weird life forms.

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Plot Keywords:

body horror | molestation | based on short story | time bomb | female frontal nudity | 

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Taglines:

Humans are such easy prey.

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Genres:

Horror | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

Director Stuart Gordon shot his film, Dolls (1987) at the same time, and it was released the following year.

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Goofs

When Bubba is knocked down and strikes the back of his head, cushioning on the edge of a table (to protect the actor) can be seen in one angle, but not the other.

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Quotes

Buford 'Bubba' Brownlee: All this talking about eating is making me hungry.

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Alternate Versions

Prior to the Monsters HD channel airing of the film and the subsequent DVD and Blu-ray releases, the home media releases before 2007 contained the censored R-rated cut which removed the following:

• Katherine being molested a few seconds longer by Pretorius.
• Dr. Bloch taking 14 seconds longer attempting to remove the pineal gland hump from Crawford's forehead.
• A longer scene of Crawford eating the brains in the morgue.
• Additional footage of Crawford sucking out Dr. Bloch's eye and spitting it out onto the floor before then sucking at her socket.
• The ambulance driver's death by three blows to the head instead of just one.
• A brief shot of blood graphically spurting as Katherine bites off Crawford's pineal hump.

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Connections

Referenced in At the Movies: Cult Video (1987)

User Reviews

Stomach Churning Contents Revealed

This seminal film by Stuart Gordon reeks pure 80's. Following the success of the far superior Re-Animator, Gordon experiments with one of the works of his favourite literary sources: HP Lovecraft. The film tackles the popular sci-fiction theme of the sixth dimension -- and considering the small-budget limitations placed upon the director, it is a reasonable treatment of the multi-dimension theme. The resonator depicted in the film demonstrates strong Lovecraftian imagery . . . not easy to achieve. What strengthens the film are the grotesque F/X and Jeffery Combs/Barbara Crampton: both of these elements are excellent (for the genre and budget). Some of the F/X are really stomach churning -- try eating jello or fried liver and Chianti when watching the film . . . If your are a HPL, Gordon, Combs or Crampton fan, this film is an essential viewing for you.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 October 1986 (USA)

Also Known As:

H.P. Lovecraft's From Beyond

Filming Locations:

Empire Studios, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Box Office

Budget:

$4,500,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$514,417, 26 October 1986

Gross USA:

$1,261,000

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$1,261,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Empire Pictures, Taryn Prov

Technical Specs

Runtime:

85 min

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1