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 | cult film | molestation | based on short story | breasts | 

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Taglines:

Everything is alive...and hungry.

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Genres:

Horror | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

R

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)

Gross USA:

$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

Did You Know?

Trivia

During scenes in the mental hospital when Katherine meets Crawford for the first time and releases him as her patient, two automatic doors use the infamous door opening sound from Star Trek: The Original Series. The second instance is a reversed version of the sample.

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Goofs

When Katharine is in the institution for the first time, and she is looking through the windows on the cell-doors, the audio of the man who screams at her does not match with the movement of his lips.

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Quotes

Buford 'Bubba' Brownlee: This guy was into some weird shit.

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Alternate Versions

The original UK cinema version was uncut by the BBFC (though the print submitted was the MPAA-edited R-rated version). The UK Vestron video releases were cut by 10 secs by the BBFC and edited a scene where Katherine's breasts are molested by the transformed Pretorius.

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Connections

Referenced in Celluloid Wizards in the Video Wasteland: The Saga of Empire Pictures

User Reviews

Campy and cheesy at times but spine tingling all the way thru

This is done by the same crew that gave us ReAnimator and while it follows in the same tradition of camp, cheese, and corn, "From Beyond" offers something more. There is sexier sex from Barbara Crampton, fresh from the Young and the Restless daytime soap. It is hard to decide if it is her Femme Fatal or her Black Leather Dominatrix that is the sexier. She does them both so well. Jeffery Combs gets a true starring role in this time out and offers much more depth to his reluctant hero character. His mentor/adversary Dr. Pretorius, played by Ted Sorel, is the essence of perverse genius. The special effects are also more intense and a step beyond anything else you're likely to have seen. Especially the battles between Pretorius and Combs' character, Crawford Tillinghast. With all the tongue in cheek humor, the campy sets and costumes, and the cheesy dialogue there still lies a truly spine tingling and disturbing storyline beneath it all. This movie could have easily been just another campy horror film but the terror of perversion makes it so much more.

This film disturbs and entertains, excites and amuses a unique vision unlike anything else.