The Beyond 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.5

The Beyond 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf August 24, 2025

My personal introduction to “The Beyond” was in the mid-1990s. Quentin Tarantino, newly exploring his marketplace powers at the time, co-founded Rolling Thunder Pictures, intending to bring influential exploitation movies to art-house audiences, with the 1981 Lucio Fulci offering part of the pack (alongside such oddities as “Switchblade Sisters,” “Mighty Peking Man,” and “Detroit 9000”). “The Beyond” was offered as a midnight show, and it was a memorable moviegoing experience (and one I repeated a few more times), presenting a wholly bizarre Italian horror picture to a slightly groggy, probably inebriated audience, allowing its filmmaking charms to hit in a special way. The endeavor remains unique in its weirdness and low-budget ambition, finding Fulci’s determination to generate a fright fest with the seams showing quite enjoyable to watch. The effort is sloppy at times, unbelievably goofy as well, but there’s something special about this messy presentation of torment and suffering, finding Fulci uniquely motivated to create a bizarre, art-inspired screen nightmare.

For additional information and analysis, please read Svet Atanasov’s 2015 Blu-ray review.

“The Beyond” is offered in multiple cuts on this release, including the “Original Theatrical Version” (87:32), “Composer’s Cut” (87:32), and the “7 Doors of Death” cut (80:13).

The Beyond 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Screencaps are taken from the Blu-ray

Grindhouse Releasing previously issued "The Beyond" on Blu-ray in 2015, and return to the title with a new UHD release, listed as a "spectacular new 4K scan from the original Techniscope camera negative." Detail is strong throughout the viewing experience, doing very well with gore zone visits, retaining goopy textures. Skin particulars are defined on the living and the undead, examining makeup additions and fine hairs. Costuming remains fibrous. Living spaces are dimensional, surveying decorative additions and age. Hospital visits and basement awakenings are also open for inspection. Exteriors are deep. Color is lively, with rich primaries throughout, doing very well with deep bloody reds and blue skies. Greenery is distinct. Sepia intro is intact. Spookier hues are also vivid, maintaining a darker look at hotel events, and blacks are deep. Skin tones are natural. Highlights are tasteful. Grain is nicely resolved. Source is in good condition, with some inherent and age-related flaws.

The Beyond 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are multiple audio options for "The Beyond," including "original mono" English and Italian mixes, and "re-mix" 2.0 and 5.1 DTS-HD MA tracks. There's a little something for everyone here, as the original mix provides a nicely aged listening experience, with good intelligibility for dialogue exchanges, and capable musical support. The newer audio passes at "The Beyond" are quite lively, with the 5.1 embracing a lot of panning and separation effects to set various moods. Performances are crisp, handling the dubbing well. Scoring is clear, though somewhat reserved at times. Instrumentation is appreciable. Sound effects are strong, preserving grisly acts of violence and snappy gunfire. Low-end has some heft, rumbling along with violent events.

The Beyond 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• A CD release of the "Composer's Cut" score is included.

UHD Disc #1

• Original Theatrical Cut features an introduction from actress Catriona MacColl (:57, SD).

• Composer's Cut features an introduction from composer Fabio Frizzi (1:35, HD).

• Commentary #1 features actors David Warbeck and Catriona MacCall.

• Commentary #2 features cinematographer Sergio Salvati.

• Commentary #3 features makeup artist Giannetto De Rossi.

• "Fabio Frizzi's Cut" (31:47, HD) is an interview with the composer of "The Beyond," who explores the creation of the "Composer's Cut."

• "Beyond 'The Beyond'" (65:04, HD) is an appreciation piece from film scholar Simone Scafidi.

Blu-ray Disc #1

• Original Theatrical Cut features an introduction from actress Catriona MacColl (:57, SD).

• Composer's Cut features an introduction from composer Fabio Frizzi (1:35, HD).

• Commentary #1 features actors David Warbeck and Catriona MacCall.

• Commentary #2 features cinematographer Sergio Salvati.

• Commentary #3 features makeup artist Giannetto De Rossi.

• "Fabio Frizzi's Cut" (31:47, HD) is an interview with the composer of "The Beyond," who explores the creation of the "Composer's Cut."

• "Beyond 'The Beyond'" (65:04, HD) is an appreciation piece from film scholar Simone Scafidi.

Blu-ray Disc #2

• Interview (66:44, SD) is a conversation with actors David Warbeck and Catriona MacCall, originally recorded in 1995.

• "Emily's Eyes" (16:54, HD) is an interview with actress Cinzia Monreale.

• "When Al Met Lucio" (15:54, HD) is an interview with actor Al Cliver (aka Pierluigi Conti).

• "Arachnophobia" (28:28, HD) is an interview with actor Michele Mirabella.

• "Of Blood and Ink" (42:58, HD) is an interview with screenwriter Dardano Sacchetti.

• "Murder, They Wrote" (12:58, HD) is an interview with screenwriter Giorgio Mariuzzo.

• "Beyond the Stunts" (11:41, HD) is an interview with stunt professionals Ottaviano Dell'Acqua and Massimo Vanni.

• "Being the Sound Guy" (26:45, HD) is an interview with sound engineer Ugo Celani.

• "Voices from The Beyond" (21:47, HD) is an interview with dubbing director Pino Colizzi.

• "Eye of the Witness" (21:39, HD) is an interview with writer Michele Romagnoli.

• "Eros and Violence" (34:28, HD) is an interview with painter and set dresser Emanuele Taglietti.

• T.V. Spots (1:06, SD) provides two commercials from "7 Doors of Death."

• U.S. Re-Release Radio Spot (:54) is offered.

• Trailers include International Trailer (3:26, HD), German Trailer (3:33, HD), U.S. Trailer ("7 Doors of Death") (2:53, HD), and U.S. Re- Release Trailer (1:25, SD).

Blu-ray Disc #3

• "Looking Back: The Creation of 'The Beyond'" (47:45, HD) features interviews with cinematographer Sergio Salvati, screenwriter Dardano Sacchetti, producer Fabrizio De Angelis, Antonella Fulci (Lucio Fulci's daughter), poster artist Enzo Sciotti, composer Fabio Frizzi, and actor Giovanni De Nava.

• "The New Orleans Connection" (44:33, HD) is an interview with actor Larry Ray.

• "Beyond and Back" (34:05, HD) is an interview with actress Catriona MacColl.

• "See Emily Play" (21:57, HD) is an interview with actress Cinzia Monreale.

• "Making It Real" (32:29, HD) is an interview with makeup effects artists Giannetto De Rossi and Maurizio Trani.

• Audio Interview (Part 1) (20:05, SD) is a 1988 conversation with director Lucio Fulci.

• Audio Interview (Part 2) (13:04, SD) is a 1988 conversation with director Lucio Fulci.

• "Eurofest '94" (46:04, SD) offers a convention appearance from actor David Warbeck and director Lucio Fulci.

• "Eurofest '96" (5:24, SD) offers a convention interview with actors David Warbeck and Catriona MacColl.

• "1996 Festival of Fantastic Films" (12:16, SD) is a convention interview with actress Catriona MacColl.

• "1996 Festival of Fantastic Films" (21:06, SD) is a convention interview with actor David Warbeck.

• "Beyond Italy" (19:05, HD) an interview with Aquarius Releasing president Terry Levene.

• Image Galleries collect "Production Stills," "Behind the Scenes," "Promotional Materials," Video Releases," and "Beyond The Beyond."

DVD Disc #1 – "7 Doors of Death"

• "'The Beyond' in the Age of Aquarius" (39:40, SD) examines the U.S. release of "7 Doors of Death" with distributors Terry Levene and Jim Markovic.

• Image Gallery collects newspaper ads for the releases of "7 Doors of Death" and "The Beyond."

• A Trailer (3:06, SD) is included.

The Beyond 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Critically, there's not a lot to love about "The Beyond." Logic isn't present in the movie, and all of the characters are idiots, especially Dr. John (David Warbeck) and his inability to recognize that head shots clearly stop zombie advancement. Fulci lingers on most scenes for much too long, creating some pacing issues. And while the gore scenes are appealingly graphic and periodically nutty (gotta love the spider attack), the helmer isn't too concerned about hiding artifice, adding unintentional laughs to the viewing experience. There are flaws and filmmaking sloppiness galore in the feature, but that's "The Beyond," which is trying to deliver a descent into a nightmare with supernatural touches and dream logic. It's an entertaining sit if you're there to embrace its darkness or mock its occasional ineptitude, providing a compelling atmosphere of dread as Fulci attempts to gross out his audience and mess with their minds.