#26 - The Beyond (1981)

The Beyond (1981)

(dir. Lucio Fulci)

Liza inherits an old abandoned hotel, but while fixing it up a number of workers are met with horrible accidents. She soon discovers the root of the problem - the hotel was built over one of the gates of hell! As the dead begin to walk the earth, Liza must try to stop the gates from opening... I think. The plot is kind of fuzzy, and takes a backseat to the real highlight of the movie - the fantastic and over-the-top practical gore effects.

I'm a big fan of Italian horror, and Fulci is one of the masters, bested only by Dario Argento and Mario Bava in my book. He's somewhat divisive, though - his films are really all about style and special effects and don't have much going on in terms of the writing or acting, this one especially. The practical gore effects are pretty crazy and hold up shockingly well nearly 40 years later. "Highlights" include a woman dissolved by acid and guy getting his face eaten off by spiders. Gross.

The Beyond is the second film in his "Gates of Hell" trilogy, which is widely considered some of his best work. I slightly prefer the third film City of the Living Dead over this one, mostly because it has a better story, but it's close. If you are into Italian horror or want to see some pretty gnarly gore, I highly recommend this one, but it definitely isn't for everyone.