Watch The Beyond

The Beyond is a 1981 Italian horror film directed by Lucio Fulci. The movie follows Liza, played by Catriona MacColl, who inherits a hotel in Louisiana that was once a hospital. Strange things begin to happen, and Liza soon learns that the hotel is built on one of the seven gateways to Hell, which had been sealed by a warlock over a century ago.

The story begins with an artist who is working on a portrait of a woman. He suddenly becomes aggressive and gouges out the woman's eyes, and then kills himself. We then see Liza arrive at the hotel with her worker, Joe, played by Giovanni De Nava. The hotel is in shambles and is in desperate need of renovation. Liza begins to uncover strange events that have happened at the hotel, such as the deaths of several guests and the mysterious disappearance of a plumber.

Liza meets a doctor named John McCabe, played by David Warbeck, who is investigating the strange happenings at the hotel. They soon learn that the hotel was built over one of the seven portals to Hell, and that the warlock who had sealed the portal was buried in the hotel's cellar.

As Liza starts to renovate the hotel, strange occurrences begin to happen, such as a spider crawling out of a painting, and a blind girl named Emily, played by Cinzia Monreale, who seems to be telepathic and warns Liza and John about the danger that awaits them.

The Beyond showcases Lucio Fulci's signature style of horror, featuring graphic violence and gore. Viewers are treated to scenes of spiders crawling out of corpses, eyes being gouged out, and warlocks being burned at the stake. The special effects, while not as polished as modern films, are impressive for their time, and Fulci's use of lighting and camera techniques keep the suspense high throughout the movie.

The actors put in commendable performances, with MacColl especially standing out as a strong female lead. The chemistry between Liza and John is convincing, and their interactions add to the film's tension. The supporting cast also does a good job portraying their characters, and it is evident that Fulci paid attention to detail even in the secondary roles.

The movie's soundtrack, composed by Fabio Frizzi, is haunting and atmospheric, and adds to the film's overall creepy vibe. The use of eerie music enhances scenes and keeps the viewer on edge, waiting for the next jump scare.

Despite some flaws, such as the occasional stilted dialogue and pacing issues in certain parts, The Beyond is a classic Italian horror film that continues to hold its own in the genre. Fulci's eye for the macabre and his willingness to go all in on the gore and violence make this a movie that is not for the faint of heart.

In conclusion, The Beyond is a horror film that has withstood the test of time, and is a must-watch for anyone interested in the genre. With its creepy vibe, impressive special effects, and standout performances, The Beyond is a film that will leave viewers on edge and questioning the safety of the seven gates of Hell.

The Beyond is a 1981 horror movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 27 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.6 and a MetaScore of 38.