From Beyond Blu-ray Review

• 14th Feb 2013

When I was asked to review Second Sight’s upcoming release of From Beyond, I was a little excited to say the least! I love films that take me back to a time of video rental shops, Big VHS cases and shelves filled with proper horror films. I am glad to say from beyond is one of those films!

Being a fan of the distribution company Arrow Films I felt a little sceptical about how another company would fair against the superb Blu-ray transfers that Arrow have to offer.

Needless to say my fears were laid to rest with this fabulous package from Second Sight. But I’ll come back to that soon.

Brought to us by the team that created the horror classic Reanimator, From Beyond stars the cream of B movie horror with Jeffrey Combs as Crawford Tillinghast and Barbara (scream queen) Crampton as Dr.Katherine McMicheals (both of Reanimator fame). Ted Sorel (Basket case 2) plays the deviant Dr.Edward Pretourious and last but by no means least, the great Ken Foree (Dawn of the Dead, Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3) who plays the cool detective Bubba Brownlee.

I’m sure those reading this review will already be familiar with director Stuart Gordon’s bizarre and wonderful outing that is From Beyond, but I’ll just have a short recap for those who might not have had the pleasure of experiencing this b movie classic.

Dr Pretourius and his colleague Crawford have designed a resonator that stimulates a part of the brain called the pineal gland which gives us the power of sixth sense. When this gland is activated the person can see weird and bizarre creatures that are apparently floating around us at all times. It doesn’t take long for these creatures to start attacking those who can see them and Dr. Pretourious is killed by one of the larger beasts. Crawford is arrested for his murder and taken to a psychiatric ward because of his strange stories from the events that took place that night. Its at this hospital he meets Dr. McMicheals who wants to investigate Crawford’s  experiment further and with Detective Brownlee in tow they return to the house to see if there are any truths to Crawfords tales!

Once again based on a classic tale from H.P Lovecraft, Director Stuart Gordon’s adaption is vile, disturbing and in places quite humorous as he spins the web and throws gross out effects left right and centre in true 80’s fashion! As much as I enjoyed watching this though and I don’t mean to take away anything from what I’ve just seen but the moment the end credits started to roll I found myself itching to watch Reanimator again! (imagine my glee when I found out Second Sight also have this in their pipeline).

There is a lot to be said for horror make up and effects pre CGI and this movie has more than enough latex, goo and god knows what else to strengthen my convictions that CGI isn’t the way to go in horror movies! When you see a post living Dr. Pretourious you’ll see exactly where I’m coming from!

Now getting back to where I was with my scepticism about Second Sight, I’m very pleased to say it looks like the UK distribution companies have outdone themselves yet again with this Blu-ray release. The transfer quality of this picture was outstanding! Sharp and vibrant with colour. Not quite sure I needed to see Ken Foree running around in orange y-fronts in THAT much HD, but I’ll leave that for you to decide!

The disc is also rammed with extras Like a commentary with Stuart Gordon, Brian Yuzna, Jeffery Combs and Barbara Crampton, informative interviews with Director and Cast, a great insight to the special FX that went into making the movie (with some questionable use of cut up condoms to create some effects). Scenes in the editing room – lost and found, and more for your viewing pleasures!

Unfortunately the preview Blu-ray didn’t come as a fully packaged disc, as I for one love the artwork and physical presence of a film which is why I’m not one for downloads and this is some of my appeal with the Arrow releases. But I did grab a glimpse of the artwork on second sights website and I admit I am extremely impressed! It looks amazing with what I’m guessing is commissioned artwork and a slip case! I will most definitely be putting my hand in my pocket and parting with my hard earned cash when this is officially released on the 25^th of February and then wait with baited breath on the Reanimator release because if this disc is anything to go by, that will be amazing! Second Sight, You have just found yourself a new customer (and fan).

Shane Meekings