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Jeffrey Combs, Barbara Crampton, Ted Sorel, Ken Foree, Bunny Summers ... see more see more... , Bruce McGuire , Regina Bleesz , Karen Christenfeld , John Leamer , Carolyn Purdy-Gordon , Del Russell , Dale Wyatt , Andy Miller

The production team responsible for the twisted cult classic Re-Animator -- including director Stuart Gordon and producer Brian Yuzna -- returned the following year with this equally depraved (perhaps... read more read more... more so) follow-up, based once again (and very loosely) on the pulp-horror fiction of H.P. Lovecraft. Also returning to the fray is Jeffrey Combs, here playing the mild-mannered Crawford Tillinghast, apprentice to the dangerously obsessed Dr. Pretorious (Ted Sorel) and co-inventor of an enigmatic and ominous-looking device known as "The Resonator" -- a machine designed to stimulate the vestigial sensory apparatus contained within the human pineal gland. Such stimulation allows participants to "see" the slimy creatures which occupy a dimension parallel to our own, but with some chilling side effects -- the first of which being that the interdimensional vision works both ways. When a powerful sentient force devours Pretorious and assumes his consciousness, Tillinghast panics and destroys the Resonator -- soon to find himself in a padded cell, accused of his mentor's murder. Called to the case are Dr. McMichaels (Barbara Crampton, another Re-Animator alum) and amiable cop Bubba Brownlee (Dawn of the Dead's Ken Foree), who escort Tillinghast back to the shattered laboratory in an attempt to corroborate his deranged account by re-creating the experiment. Their attempts are all too successful, and the Pretorious-thing emerges to take control of the reactivated Resonator and draw the others into its hideous realm. Also called forth are the participants' darkest sexual desires -- another interesting by-product of pineal stimulation -- and, in Tillinghast's case, an uncontrollable urge to devour human brains. Just when it seems it can't get any weirder...it does. Gordon explores this demented scenario with relish, allowing nearly every scene to go completely over the top into surreal mayhem while retaining the dark brooding sense of menace characteristic of Lovecraft's work. (It's not likely, however, that the author's dignified upbringing would have explored the psychosexual dimensions of the premise -- at least not in the kind of detail seen here.) All manners of perversities abound, accompanied by the wizardry of four dueling special-effects studios and the rich, creepy score by Richard H. Band, bringing the film to a literally explosive climax and a chillingly poetic final shot. ~ Cavett Binion, Rovi

Flixster Users

67% liked it

6,533 ratings

Critics

75% liked it

12 critics

R, 1 hr. 30 min.

Directed by: Stuart Gordon

Release Date: October 24, 1986

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DVD Release Date: September 11, 2007

 

Stats: 574 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (574)

  • kenstachnik
    February 10, 2011
    kenstachnik
    All you need to know is Jeffrey Combs sucks a woman's brains out...
    through her ocular socket.
    Why aren't you watching this right now?
  • Stinger839
    February 24, 2010
    Stinger839
    In this far too liberal adaptation of Lovecraft's "From Beyond", the only highlight is the creature effects and the machine props/set, which will only be of interest to fans of the bygone era of using only practical effects and may seem silly and crude to modern viewers. The pink... read more-blue lighting of the parallel realm is pretty nice, but that ends the good to be found here. Most of the makeup and creature highlights can be seen in the trailer too, so there is really no reason to waste time on this utterly lame story which disgraces its literary roots.
  • ythelastman89
    November 18, 2009
    ythelastman89
    Almost as amazing as the Re-Animator and certainly just as fun. It has the same great effects and twisted morals. Jeffrey Combs did it again, a priceless character. Ken Foree was a nice surprise and had some great moments. This went way into the science fiction genre, covering si... read morexth senses and multi-dimensions.
  • YosemiteSamFan
    October 17, 2009
    YosemiteSamFan
    It took me 23 years to finally see this wonderful but demented film. Based on a H.P. Lovecraft tale, and I imagine updated slightly for the 80's. Like "Hellraiser", there are elements of bondage, pleasure and pain "from beyond". Mad scientists unlock another dimension with their ... read moreresonator device, allowing other-worldly creatures to attack. The story moves along at a nice pace; I didn't get bored and feared what would come next.

    This is a high-quality production from Stuart Gordon, who brought us such classics as "Dolls" and "Re-Animator". It's demented, goopy and grotesque. The monster creations are believable and stomach-turning. The makeup is topnotch and deserves awards.
  • arashxak
    May 18, 2009
    arashxak
    definitely not as good as Re-animator but still pure fun to watch
  • puffchunk
    March 16, 2008
    puffchunk
    4 stars for being one of the most disgusting movies I have ever seen.
  • thefog1331
    September 19, 2007
    thefog1331
    Although I was a little disappointed by the director's cut which at best added 30 seconds that the MPAA had truncated from the film it was still a pleasant trip down memory lane. Though not as manic or blackly funny as Gordon's Re-Animator this is still a wild ride of goo, brains... read more and blood with a bit of S & M thrown in.
  • Beefy
    September 15, 2007
    Beefy
    More zaniness from Gordon and Combs. Not as much fun as Re-Animator, but still worthwhile. Possibly the least tweaked/crazed I've ever seen Combs play a role, at least initially.
  • drblood
    June 24, 2007
    drblood
    Made by the same team responsible for Re-animator, this is an often overlooked gem in the "based very loosely indeed on H.P. Lovecraft" genre.
  • ryguy4738
    December 2, 2011
    ryguy4738
    *** out of ****

    If there's one reason to know the name of Stuart Gordon, it's because of his early masterwork of trash "Re-Animator". If there's anything you'll know the writer H.P. Lovecraft from, it's his classic short story "The Call of Cthulhu". These two brilliant minds m... read moreet once in 1985 with the already-said film; "Re-Animator". Now, they have met once again in "From Beyond"; a quality piece of trash from director Gordon, who remains as lovably sleazy and exploitative as ever.

    But I suppose there's a charm and a style to his methods of direction; there are the slobs who work with sleaze and then there are the artists (who also, from time-to-time work with sleaze). I'd say Gordon comes close to the second category than the first; there's an undeniable artistry to his every intent as a filmmaker, and I admire his career. His job is to disgust through special effects; he creates slime, blood, gore, and "other things". I need not mention his every creation. Let's just say that it's a surprise; and Gordon's artistic vision is an ambitious (and thoroughly engaging) one. If you know what to expect from the director, well, then there isn't much more to say about this film.

    I think the reason behind Gordon's success in both "Re-Animator" and "From Beyond" is his connection and general understanding of Lovecraft's wild imagination; which often ran amuck with crazy ideas, but never strayed into the kind of camp and absurdity that Gordon - the adaptor of the author's great macabre tales - aims to present. "From Beyond" blends science fiction with horror; eventually attempting to bring a little bit of drama into the mix, but emerging the kind of film that it intended to be all along even if that last element doesn't necessarily work out for the better. But then again, in a horror movie, the drama seldom tends to work all that well; so we stop expecting it. But it's always a welcome surprise when a filmmaker does attempt to tackle such venues and emerges victorious.

    You've got a pretty simple-minded yet ambitious story at hand; that of scientist-turned-schizophrenic Dr. Crawford (Jeffrey Combs) who has invented a machine which he referred to as The Resonator. This fine work of art allowed Crawford and a business partner to experience pleasure beyond that of our own world; in fact, the machine itself was made to open a whole other dimension and unleash its contents onto our own world. Crawford's partner is power-hungry and things get out of hand fast; Crawford kills his friend to prevent the madness that would have quickly ensued if he had not made the difficult decision, and he gives himself up to the police who are waiting outside (an annoyed neighbor, who heard the sounds and saw the lights that came from Crawford's house had called the officers).

    He now moves to a psychiatric ward; where he seems more crazy, but still potentially brilliant. One day, he is visited by Dr. Katherine McMichaels (Barbara Crampton), who takes him in as her patient after disapproving of the way that Crawford's current doctors are treating him. She attempts to gain access to the mind of her new friend and patient; eventually persuading him to accompany her and a friend (Ken Foree) to the house where The Resonator still stands, unattended. But, as it would seem; the old work partner has indeed left OUR world, but still exists in another. He is no longer human; and he will manifest himself whenever the machine is turned on during the initial stay of these three central protagonists. And they'll turn The Resonator on a lot; out of curiosity, hoping to discover something new each time. And oh, they will.

    Man, oh man; is this movie gross. It's a rather outstanding exercise in bad taste; it does not attempt to redeem itself thematically or even through its own ambitions; which are often quite broad in nature. Gordon cares more about the exploitation of his subjects, and for once I can respect that; he makes use of a lot of complex and visually stunning special effects to tell his story in a different way than the traditional style. If we're talking about the plot of "From Beyond"; it's a very average movie, but if we're talking about the experience, then suddenly, it's pretty damn sensational. I enjoyed the film; it was lovably disgusting, and endlessly endearing at that. I appreciate what Gordon has going here, and somehow he transforms an almost irredeemably messy movie into something that can pass as solid escapist entertainment.

    If you can get past the "gross" factor that comes with "From Beyond", then you might just get lost in it enough to appreciate it. I can't say it's anything great - but it's one of the director's best films in the sense that it almost entirely embraces his art, which was to create something disgusting, repulsive, tasteless, yet discreetly pleasurable. Not everyone call this kind of film - well-made or not - entertaining, but I'm forgiving as well as understanding. I imagine that a good number of people who see the film will be less forgiving, but what's life without divisive opinions, am I right? "From Beyond" is the kind of film that wants you to react; and it wants to laugh at how you go about doing so. I think that, in itself, is a kind of weird beauty.

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Critic Reviews

Jeffrey M. Anderson
September 16, 2010
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid

The tone is so ludicrous and deadpan that it practically invites a late night audience to laugh as well as scream. Full Review

Walter Chaw
December 19, 2008
Walter Chaw, Film Freak Central

exceptional pulp Full Review

Scott Weinberg
October 7, 2007
Scott Weinberg, FEARnet

I'm not saying it's on the same level as Re-Animator, but From Beyond still ranks pretty damn high on Stuart Gordon's filmography. Full Review

Jeremiah Kipp
September 29, 2007
Jeremiah Kipp, Slant Magazine

Faithful to that netherworld of Lovecraft's fiction where otherworldly monsters lurk just under the fabric of our reality. Full Review

Brian Webster
September 8, 2007
Brian Webster, Apollo Guide

Has little to offer other than laughs at its campiness, and a reminder of how low budget filmmaking by those with higher aspirations looked, back in the day. Full Review

Stefan Birgir Stefansson
February 14, 2007
Stefan Birgir Stefansson, sbs.is

kick ass

Jon Niccum
October 17, 2003
Jon Niccum, Lawrence Journal-World

Another quirky horror gem from Stuart Gordon

Ken Hanke
August 21, 2002
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Works on nearly every level and qualifies as one of the classics of modern horror. Full Review

Vincent Canby
May 20, 2003
Vincent Canby, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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