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:

Everything is alive... and hungry.

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Genres:

Horror | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

The Resonator sound effects were later sampled in the song, "Intergalactic" by Beastie Boys.

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Goofs

When Crawford tries to get out of the van, he can't. Bubba mentions child proof locks. Shortly after that, Bubba gets out of the van using the same door, with no problems.

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Quotes

Buford 'Bubba' Brownlee: Were we in the same nightmare? I mean, didn't we all just nearly get eaten by an... an It?

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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 Reading the Book of the Senseless (2015)

User Reviews

Another horror classic from the team of Stuart Gordon and Brian Yuzna.

Stuart Gordon's debut 'Re-Animator' is a horror classic, and 'From Beyond' is an attempt to get lightning to strike twice. Once again Gordon and producer/co-writer Brian Yuzna make a gory horror/black comedy loosely inspired by a H.P. Lovecraft story, and get cult hero Jeffrey Combs and scream queen Barbara Crampton to star. And you know what? It's actually as great in its own way as 'Re-Animator'. They really pulled it off! Combs isn't quite as outrageous this time round, but he's still excellent, and Crampton has a more important role, which includes her memorably dressing up in bondage gear. Another 'Re-Animator' actor Carolyn Purdy-Gordon also appears in the supporting cast, as does Ken Foree, one of the stars of Romero's zombie classic 'Dawn Of The Dead', and Ted Sorel plays Dr. Pretorious (a deliberate reference to 'Bride Of Frankenstein'), in a role one could almost imagine was written specifically for the late David Gale ('Re-Animator's Dr. Hill). The story is original and unpredictable, the humour dark and surprisingly subtle, and the special effects are excellent and very effective. For me this movie is extremely underrated and gets better with each subsequent viewing. If you enjoyed 'Re-Animator' you'll love 'From Beyond'. Gordon and Yuzna's subsequent careers, both separately and together, have been extremely uneven, but give credit where credit is due, this one's a winner! Highly recommended.

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