From Beyond (1986)

 

From Beyond is Stuart Gordon's follow up to the 1985 masterpiece, Re-Animator. Like Re-Animator, From Beyond is based on a story from horror writer H.P. Lovecraft. 

I had been pointed in the direction of watching Re-Animator early in my exploration of the genre, and I have watched it dozens of times since. So it goes without saying that when I saw From Beyond available to stream I was instantly drawn to watching it.

 

Dr Edward Pretorius and his assistant, Crawford Tillinghast (played by Jeffery Combs) have developed a machine called the resonator to stimulate the brains pineal gland using vibrations emitted from the machine. When Crawford tests the machine out, he summons some strange eel like aliens which fly through the air. Dr Pretorius refuses to turn the resonator off, and the experiment goes wildly out of control. Doctor Pretorious dies horrifically and Crawford is arrested and brought to a mental hospital for analysis. At the hospital a young psychiatrist Dr. Katherine McMichaels (played by Barbara Crampton) wishes to take Crawford back to Pretorius manor to explore the claims and investigate his pyschosis. The two are joined by a detective Bubba Brownlee (played by Ken Foree). 

Crawford, Dr McMichaels and detective Brownlee return to Pretorious manor and turn the resonator back on. Dr Pretorious returns as a goo covered aberration, and a nightmare of body horror and creature effects are splattered across your screen

I have a soft spot for 80's era monster movies and From Beyond delivered magnificently to my tastes. Jeffery Combs, Barbara Crampton and Ken Foree are believable characters who have enough 80's type casting to help keep the nostalgia afloat. Ted Sorel, who plays Dr Pretorius delivers some chills and creepyness as a BDSM scientist that only knows how to give pain not pleasure. 

 

The creature effects are wonderful, and disgusting. From gore soaked mutations, to pineal gland eye stocks from the forehead, the practical effects were awesome.

The film touches on some schlocky fetish stuff and even has Barbara Crampton dressed in leathers, which I'm not going to comment about. 

From Beyond relies a lot on the classic 80's tropes for this type of cinema, but I do think it stands well on its own. I can understand why From Beyond isn't always mentioned when compared to Re-Animator and to be honest I do think its not as good overall in comparison.

I do think that if you like this type of 80's gore fest, then From Beyond is a must watch.

From Beyond is gore, slime, and perversion, rolled into a beautifully aged cheese from the 80's cellar of cinema.