The Beyond Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		3.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.0

The Beyond Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov April 8, 2015

Lucio Fulci's "E tu vivrai nel terrore - L'aldilà" a.k.a. "The Beyond" (1981) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of independent distributors Grindhouse Releasing. The supplemental features on this release include original promotional materials; archival interviews with the Italian director and cast and crew members; archival Q&A sessions; audio commentary with stars Catriona MacColl and David Warbeck; and a lot more. Also included with this release is a CD with remastered original soundtrack music from the film by Fabio Frizzi, as well as 10-page illustrated booklet with writings on the film. In Italian or English, with optional English subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".

Liza

A rundown hotel, Louisiana, 1927. A painter named Schweick (Antoine Saint-John, Mad Enough to Kill, Ginger and Fred) is captured and crucified by a group of angry men with torches. He dies and the men pour quicklime on his body. After they leave, one of seven doors connecting the world of the dead with the world of the living is opened.

Present days. A young and beautiful woman from New York City named Liza (Catriona MacColl, City of the Living Dead, The House by the Cemetery) inherits the hotel. She decides to fix what time has damaged and reopen it for business. While working in the hotel’s flooded basement Joe the Plumber (Giovanni de Nava, The House by the Cemetery) accidentally unleashes something evil.

Meanwhile, Liza encounters a blind girl (Cinzia Monreale, They Died with Their Boots On), who may or may not know where the evil that has been unleashed comes from. She also befriends a local doctor (David Warbeck, The Ark of the Sun God), who turns out to be the only man in town who understands what is happening.

The films of Italian director Lucio Fulci are an acquired taste. If one does not find atmospheric schlock and gore utterly exciting, one should not waste his time with them. They don’t get better with multiple viewings. The older they get, the less refined they look.

This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, because some truly dreadful films could look quite charming if one approaches them with the right set of expectations. Occasionally a terrible script, cheesy special effects and some really bizarre dialog could be mixed into something rather special. Remember Bruno Mattei’s Rats: Night of Terror and Lamberto Bava's Demons?

Fulci’s The Beyond falls short of being that kind of a special film, but oozes enthusiasm that is rather impossible not to admire. Its story is quite weak, special effects ambitious but ultimately underwhelming, and most of the cast completely out of touch with the film’s reality. Naturally, the visuals are notably bizarre, reminding about vivid hallucinations.

And they are not easy to forget. The atmosphere is amongst the wackiest witnessed in Italian horror films, and the fractured narrative amongst the most incomprehensible ever assembled. The film is more or less a moody trip, a ruthless exercise in style that has absolutely no use of substance. If one begins applying logic to it in an attempt to figure out the narrative, one would almost certainly be underwhelmed, more than likely also enormously frustrated.

The narrative is comprised of various episodes that are united by the presence of the evil, which appears in different forms and shapes. It hardly matters where it comes from, however, so long as the there are enough sadistic killings on display. This is Fulci’s world, bizarre and twisted, and one isn’t supposed to question it, but enthusiastically embrace it.

There is something to be said about the music in The Beyond as well. Fabio Frizzi’s score is dark, intense, and genuinely creepy. A long piano leitmotif is repeatedly used to enhance some of the most atmospheric scenes in the film. Various sound effects are also added.

Note: This Blu-ray disc contains the film's uncut 87-minute version.

The Beyond Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 2.40:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Lucio Fulci's The Beyond arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Grindhouse Releasing.

Despite the framing discrepancy, the technical presentation is very similar to that of Arrow Video's release of The Beyond. Unfortunately, I don't think that this is very good news for fans of the film.

Generally speaking, clarity and detail are fairly good. Select close-ups, for example, can look quite nice (see screencapture #1). However, the same light machine noise that is present on the Arrow Video release can also be seen creeping in here. The sharpening is also retained. Rather predictably, different parts of the film can look quite harsh (see screencaptures #6, 11, and 17). Furthermore, because the grain is mixed with the machine noise, when the camera zooms some light trailing effects can be spotted (the larger your screen is, the more distracting they will likely be). Colors are stable, but it is easy to see that saturation should be better. Lastly, there are no large cuts, debris, or stains, but a few very tiny flecks can be spotted. The encoding is better, but during the prologue I noticed light microblocking popping up. All in all, the technical presentation is quite uneven and the film does not have the solid organic appearance it should have had. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free PS3 or SA in order to access its content).

The Beyond Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are four standard audio tracks on this Blu-ray release: English Re-mix DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, English Re-mix Dolby Digital 2.0, Original English Mono DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0, and Original Italian Dolby Digital 1.0. Optional English subtitles have been provided for the main feature. When turned on, they appear inside the image frame.

The English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track has the best dynamic amplitude, but this time I chose to view the film with the original English Mono track. Depth and clarity are good, but there are obvious fluctuations. It must be said, however, that they are part of the film's original sound design. Some of the effects during the more intense sequences also feel toned down a bit. There are a few tiny pops, but the high-frequencies are very good and there are no distortions. I recommend viewing the film with the mono track.

The Beyond Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Blu-ray Disc One

• Introduction - brand new video introduction by actress Catriona MacColl filmed exclusively for Grindhouse Releasing's Blu-ray release of The Beyond. In English, not subtitled. (1 min, 480/60i).

• Color Pre-Credit Sequence -
  
  1. German Version - Color. In German, not subtitled. (9 min, 480/60i).
  2. English Version - Color. In English, not subtitled. (9 min, 480/60i).

• Trailers -
  
  1. International Trailer - In English, not subtitled. (4 min, 1080p).
  2. German Trailer - In German, not subtitled. (4 min, 480/60i)
  3. U.S. Trailer - 7 Doors of Death - In English, not subtitled. (3 min, 480/60i).
  4. U.S. Re-release Trailer - In English, not subtitled. (2 min, 480/60i).

• U.S. TV Spots - 7 Doors of Hell - In English, not subtitled. (2 min, 480/60i).

• U.S. Re-release Radio Spot - In English, not subtitled. (1 min, 1080p).

• Commentary - this audio commentary with stars Catriona MacColl and David Warbeck also appears on Arrow Video's release of The Beyond.

Blu-ray Disc Two

• Interviews - presented here is a massive collection of interviews with cast and crew members as well as people that were involved with the production, distribution and promotion of The Beyond.
  
  1. Looking Back - The Creation of The Beyond. This documentary program features interviews with cinematographer Sergio Salvati, screenwriter Dardano Sacchetti, producer Fabrizio De Angelis, Antonella Fulci (the director's daughter), and poster artist Enzo Sciotti, amongst others. In Italian, with imposed yellow English subtitles. (48 min, 1080p).
  
  2. The New Orleans Connection - Larry Ray. In this video interview, actor Larry Ray (Anthony Flees) recalls how he became involved with The Beyond and discusses the shooting of the film. In English, not subtitled. (45 min, 1080p).
  
  3. Beyond and Back - Catriona MacColl. In this video interview, discusses her contribution to The Beyond, Lucio Fulci's working methods, and the film's cult status. In English, not subtitled. (35 min, 1080p).
  
  4. See Emily Play - Cinzia Monreale. In this video interview, actress Cinzia Monreale recalls how she entered the film business and discusses her work with Lucio Fulci (with specific comments about The Beyond). In English, not subtitled. (22 min, 1080p).
  
  5. Making it Real - Giannetto DeRossi and Maurizio Trani. In this video interview, make-up artist Giannetto DeRossi and special effects artist Maurizio Trani discuss their professional relationship with Lucio Fulci (Zombi, The Beyond) and the production and shooting of The Beyond. In Italian, with imposed yellow English subtitles. (33 min, 1080p).
  
  6. Lucio Fulci Interview August 1988 - Part I. In August 1988, Italian journalist Gaetano Mistretta sent a letter to Lucio Fulci with a list of questions about his life and movies. Lucio Fulci recorded an audio tape with his answers and then sent it back to Mistretta. The interview was partially published on "Dark Star" magazine (issue #2, August 1988) and in the "Spaghetti Nightmares" book. Presented here is the first part of the original recording made by the Italian director himself. In Italian, with printed white English subtitles. (21 min, 480/60i).
  
  7. Lucio Fulci Interview August 1988 - Part II. Presented here is the second part of the original recording made by Lucio Fulci. In Italian, with printed white English subtitles. (14 min, 480/60i).
  
  8. Eurofest '94 - Lucio Fulci and David Warbeck. Presented here is archival footage from before and after the screening of The Beyond at Eurofest '94. After the screening, director Lucio Fulci and actor David Warbeck answer a series of questions during a Q&A session. The Italian director's answers are in Italian but are translated in English. In English, not subtitled. (47 min, 480/60i).
  
  9. Eurofest '96 - Catriona MacColl and David Warbeck. The actors quickly discuss the popularity of The Beyond. In English, not subtitled. (6 min, 480/60i).
  
  10. 1996 Festival of Fantastic Films - Catriona MacColl. The actress discusses the censoring of Lucio Fulci's films, the popularity of the films in England and in other countries, etc. In English, not subtitled. (13 min, 480/60i).
  
  11. 1996 Festival of Fantastic Films - David Warbeck. Actor David Warbeck explains how he entered the film business, his work in genre films, violence in films, etc. In English, not subtitled. (22 min, 480/60i).
  
  12. Beyond Italy - U.S. Distributor Terry Levene. In this featurette, legendary exploitation distributor and president of Aquarius Releasing Terry Levene discusses his career, how the distribution business has evolved during the years, and his relationship with a number of cult Italian films, including Lucio Fulci's The Beyond. The featurette was produced by High Rising Productions in association with Arrow Video. In English, not subtitled. (20 min, 1080p).

• Still Galleries - a large collection of stills.
  
  1. Production Stills
  2. Behind the Scenes
  3. Promotional Materials
  
  • Italy
  • Germany
  • France
  • U.S.
  • Various
  • Beyond the Beyond (photographs, magazine covers, articles, etc).

• Grindhouse Releasing Prevues - trailers for other Grindhouse Releasing releases.
  
  1. Cat In The Brain
  2. Cannibal Holocaust
  3. Cannibal Ferox
  4. Massacre Mafia Style
  5. Gone With Pope
  6. Pieces
  7. Corruption
  8. The Swimmer
  9. The Big Gundown
  10. An American Hippie in Israel
  11. Scum Of The Earth
  12. The Tough Ones
  13. Ice House
  14. I Drink Your Blood

CD

• Original Soundtrack - remastered original soundtrack music from the film by Fabio Frizzi.
  
  1. Verso Lignoto
  
  2. Voci Dal Nulla
  
  3. Suono Aperto
  
  4. Sequenza Coro E Orchestra
  
  5. Oltre La Soglia
  
  6. Voci Dal Nulla
  
  7. Suono Aperto
  
  8. Voci Dal Nulla
  
  9. Giro Di Blues
  
  10. Verso Lignoto
  
  11. Sequenza Ritmica E Tema

• Booklet - 10-page illustrated booklet with writings on the film.

The Beyond Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Grindhouse Releasing's Blu-ray release of Lucio Fulci's The Beyond is one of the most impressive packages that I have seen created for a cult film. It was designed and made for fans of the film and it easily shows. The film does not look as good as it should, but the massive -- and I really mean massive -- amount of supplemental content makes it very easy to recommend the Blu-ray. RECOMMENDED.