From Beyond (1986)

75% of critics liked it
(12 reviews)
67% of users liked it
(6,443 ratings)

The production team responsible for the twisted cult classic Re-Animator -- including director Stuart Gordon and producer Brian Yuzna -- returned the following year with this equally depraved (perhaps more so) follow-up, based once again (and very loosely) on the pulp-horror fiction of H.P.… More The production team responsible for the twisted cult classic Re-Animator -- including director Stuart Gordon and producer Brian Yuzna -- returned the following year with this equally depraved (perhaps more so) follow-up, based once again (and very loosely) on the pulp-horror fiction of H.P. Lovecraft. Also returning to the fray is Jeffrey Combs, here playing the mild-mannered Crawford Tillinghast, apprentice to the dangerously obsessed Dr. Pretorious (Ted Sorel) and co-inventor of an enigmatic and ominous-looking device known as "The Resonator" -- a machine designed to stimulate the vestigial sensory apparatus contained within the human pineal gland. Such stimulation allows participants to "see" the slimy creatures which occupy a dimension parallel to our own, but with some chilling side effects -- the first of which being that the interdimensional vision works both ways. When a powerful sentient force devours Pretorious and assumes his consciousness, Tillinghast panics and destroys the Resonator -- soon to find himself in a padded cell, accused of his mentor's murder. Called to the case are Dr. McMichaels (Barbara Crampton, another Re-Animator alum) and amiable cop Bubba Brownlee (Dawn of the Dead's Ken Foree), who escort Tillinghast back to the shattered laboratory in an attempt to corroborate his deranged account by re-creating the experiment. Their attempts are all too successful, and the Pretorious-thing emerges to take control of the reactivated Resonator and draw the others into its hideous realm. Also called forth are the participants' darkest sexual desires -- another interesting by-product of pineal stimulation -- and, in Tillinghast's case, an uncontrollable urge to devour human brains. Just when it seems it can't get any weirder...it does. Gordon explores this demented scenario with relish, allowing nearly every scene to go completely over the top into surreal mayhem while retaining the dark brooding sense of menace characteristic of Lovecraft's work. (It's not likely, however, that the author's dignified upbringing would have explored the psychosexual dimensions of the premise -- at least not in the kind of detail seen here.) All manners of perversities abound, accompanied by the wizardry of four dueling special-effects studios and the rich, creepy score by Richard H. Band, bringing the film to a literally explosive climax and a chillingly poetic final shot. ~ Cavett Binion, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 30 min.
Directed By: Stuart Gordon
Genres: Drama, Horror, Science Fiction & Fantasy

In Theaters: Oct 24, 1986 Wide
On DVD: Sep 11, 2007
Studio: Vestron Video

Critic Reviews

Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
The tone is so ludicrous and deadpan that it practically invites a late night audience to laugh as well as scream.
Walter Chaw, Film Freak Central
exceptional pulp
Bill Gibron, PopMatters
From Beyond stands as a stellar example of what '80s terror did best - expanding on old concepts while using any and all available resources to realize its ideas.
Scott Weinberg, FEARnet
I'm not saying it's on the same level as Re-Animator, but From Beyond still ranks pretty damn high on Stuart Gordon's filmography.
Jeremiah Kipp, Slant Magazine
This respectable piece of 1980s splatter cinema gets a classy DVD treatment.
Jeremiah Kipp, Slant Magazine
Faithful to that netherworld of Lovecraft's fiction where otherworldly monsters lurk just under the fabric of our reality.
Sean Axmaker, MSN.com
... less concerned with black comedy and outre gore than the madness that permeates the Lovecraft universe.
Brian Webster, Apollo Guide
The 'unrated director's cut' DVD offers a whole load of extras.
Brian Webster, Apollo Guide
Has little to offer other than laughs at its campiness, and a reminder of how low budget filmmaking by those with higher aspirations looked, back in the day.
Stefan Birgir Stefansson, sbs.is
kick ass
Jon Niccum, Lawrence Journal-World
Another quirky horror gem from Stuart Gordon
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Works on nearly every level and qualifies as one of the classics of modern horror.

Read all 12 critic reviews

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Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

Ken S

All you need to know is Jeffrey Combs sucks a woman's brains out... through her ocular socket. Why aren't you watching this right now?
_kelly .

In this far too liberal adaptation of Lovecraft's "From Beyond", the only highlight is the creature effects and the machine props/set, which will only be of interest to fans of the bygone era of using only practical effects and may seem silly and crude to modern… More
In this far too liberal adaptation of Lovecraft's "From Beyond", the only highlight is the creature effects and the machine props/set, which will only be of interest to fans of the bygone era of using only practical effects and may seem silly and crude to modern viewers. The pink-blue lighting of the parallel realm is pretty nice, but that ends the good to be found here. Most of the makeup and creature highlights can be seen in the trailer too, so there is really no reason to waste time on this utterly lame story which disgraces its literary roots.
Conner R

Almost as amazing as the Re-Animator and certainly just as fun. It has the same great effects and twisted morals. Jeffrey Combs did it again, a priceless character. Ken Foree was a nice surprise and had some great moments. This went way into the science fiction genre, covering sixth… More
Almost as amazing as the Re-Animator and certainly just as fun. It has the same great effects and twisted morals. Jeffrey Combs did it again, a priceless character. Ken Foree was a nice surprise and had some great moments. This went way into the science fiction genre, covering sixth senses and multi-dimensions.
Lafe F

It took me 23 years to finally see this wonderful but demented film. Based on a H.P. Lovecraft tale, and I imagine updated slightly for the 80's. Like "Hellraiser", there are elements of bondage, pleasure and pain "from beyond". Mad scientists unlock another… More
It took me 23 years to finally see this wonderful but demented film. Based on a H.P. Lovecraft tale, and I imagine updated slightly for the 80's. Like "Hellraiser", there are elements of bondage, pleasure and pain "from beyond". Mad scientists unlock another dimension with their resonator device, allowing other-worldly creatures to attack. The story moves along at a nice pace; I didn't get bored and feared what would come next. This is a high-quality production from Stuart Gordon, who brought us such classics as "Dolls" and "Re-Animator". It's demented, goopy and grotesque. The monster creations are believable and stomach-turning. The makeup is topnotch and deserves awards.
Arash X

definitely not as good as Re-animator but still pure fun to watch
Curtis L

4 stars for being one of the most disgusting movies I have ever seen.
A.D. V

Although I was a little disappointed by the director's cut which at best added 30 seconds that the MPAA had truncated from the film it was still a pleasant trip down memory lane. Though not as manic or blackly funny as Gordon's Re-Animator this is still a wild ride of goo,… More
Although I was a little disappointed by the director's cut which at best added 30 seconds that the MPAA had truncated from the film it was still a pleasant trip down memory lane. Though not as manic or blackly funny as Gordon's Re-Animator this is still a wild ride of goo, brains and blood with a bit of S & M thrown in.
Steve K

More zaniness from Gordon and Combs. Not as much fun as Re-Animator, but still worthwhile. Possibly the least tweaked/crazed I've ever seen Combs play a role, at least initially.
Dr Blood

Made by the same team responsible for Re-animator, this is an often overlooked gem in the "based very loosely indeed on H.P. Lovecraft" genre.
Alec B

Slim, gore, monsters, pseudo-science, and a little S & M. What more do you need from a movie?
Eduardo C

As trashy as trash flicks get. Pretty much the ultimate "Full Moon" picture and on that oh so banal level (which is, in all honesty, all it aspires to) it works decently.
Anthony V

Stuart Gordon does Lovecraft, count me in.
Barry L

Terrifying when your ten....not too bad as an adult.

Read all 13 featured audience ratings

Cast

Jeffrey Combs
as Crawford Tillinghast
Barbara Crampton
as Dr. Katherine McMichaels
Ted Sorel
as Dr. Edward Pretorious

Ken Foree
as Bubba Brownlee
Bunny Summers
as Neighbor Lady
Bruce McGuire
as Jordan Fields

See full cast

From Beyond (1986)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

Cast

Trailers & Clips