I originally wrote this review for ThEpic Review on March 18th, 2014.
The Beyond (also released as Seven Doors of Death) has
been praised by some horror fans as director Lucio Fulci's
masterpiece. Combining his more sinister, arcane tales of the occult and
portals to Hell with his more popular zombie films, The Beyond
manages to be just as creepy and disturbing as it is gory. And let me
warn you, The Beyond is gory. We're talking grindhouse style eyeballs
removed from eye sockets and people being eaten bite by bite by spiders
gory. We're talking dogs eating blind people and people getting melted
by acid. This is the kind of film that will make you sit there and both
quiver and shiver (most films opt for either one or the other!) until
the very last frame. Ready for a brief look at 1981's The Beyond? Then
join me after the break...
Set in Louisiana, the film opens in 1927 as we witness the brutal
murder of an artist named Schewick at the Seven Doors Hotel. Scheweick
is whipped, crucified, and melted with some sort of acid by the locals.
Years later, Liza Merril (Catriona MacColl) moves from New York to
Louisiana after she learns that she has inherited the somewhat run down
hotel. Intent on opening the hotel, Liza moves forward with renovations
even after two tragic accidents involving a roofer and a plumber. As the
renovations continue, stranger and stranger events continue to happen
and Liza begins to realize that her inheritance has more problems than a
flood basement and faulty wiring. Strange visions, terrible revenants,
and a mysterious book called the Book of Eibon (a nice Lovecraft nod)
begin to reveal that the hotel itself houses a portal to Hell which has
been disturbed.
Prior to watching this film the only Lucio Fulci film I had seen
was Zombi 2, but let me say that I now plan to try and watch more of his
stuff as I'm impressed by what I've seen so far. While it sounds like
I've mostly focusing on the gore, I do want to emphasize that this is a
really well rounded horror film. It has a fantastic cast, an excellent
soundtrack that is bizarrely wonderful, and an atmosphere that just
perfect in contributing to the sense of impending doom that we know is
inevitable. Fulci's trademark closeup shots brilliantly capture every
stomach churning death, every sinister omen, and every look of intense
terror. As you watch the movie, pay attention to how much Fulci focuses
on the eyes of the characters. Not only do we see closeups of the
characters' eyes to help us understand them, but eyes and sight are a
central theme of the film. When characters are attacked, often it is
their eyes that are targeted. When we initially introduced to the evil
presence lurking in the Seven Doors Hotel, it is a glimpse of eyes. One
of the most haunting characters is a young blind woman, an almost
prophetic figure who attempts to intervene in the film's tragic events.
Watching The Beyond, you'll either find your own eyes intensely
glued to the screen or covered by your hands as you turn away from the
horrors this film has to offer. Give it a try and see how you fare with
your visit to the Seven Doors Hotel.
Confirmed: Great
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I remember seeing bits and pieces of this movie at a very young age. I'm pretty sure I ran upstairs to my bedroom and hid under the covers.
ReplyDeleteI might have to give it another shot if I can find it.
I still wanted to hide watching this movie. It's freaking intense and very, very disturbing. I'm trying to see more of Fulci's stuff as it all has such a bizarre, otherworldly vibe to it.
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