Medusa Distribuzione released The Beyond in Italy in early 1981. It wasn’t until 11 November 1983 that Aquarius Releasing released the film in the United States.
The Beyond is one of my favorite films. This isn’t surprising. Lucio Fulci is one of my favorite directors. It is arguably his best film.
But it is an aquired taste. It doesn’t go for strict realism. The standout scene features an army of tarantulas. And they don’t look real at all!
Americans overvalue realism. People justify this with the idea that realism keeps you immersed in the film. But that isn’t really true. Inconsistency pulls viewers out of a film. Put unrealistic spiders in Alien and it will destroy the narrative reality. But in a Fulci film? It all hangs together.
Strangely, the effect of watching The Beyond is visceral. There is nothing especially intellectual about it — at least as a viewer. Just sit and let it take you over.
The film is part of the Gates of Hell trilogy. Like most horror trilogies, it really isn’t. The first film, City of the Living Dead, is about one of the gates of hell opening. But the last one, The House by the Cemetery, doesn’t feature any gate of any kind. It’s a good film but hardly the way to finish off a trilogy.
Of the three films, The Beyond is the best. (But I admit that I’m rather more obsessed with City.) If you’ve never seen it, you must! It is essential viewing. And if you’ve watched it a dozen times, it’s still worth watching again!
The Beyond (1981) poster via Wikipedia under Fair Use.
