CHUD.com Community › Forums › CREATURE CORNER › Creature Corner Main › DVD Review: From Beyond
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

DVD Review: From Beyond

post #1 of 37
Thread Starter 
post #2 of 37
Good review - well done.
post #3 of 37
I just watched this the other day for my first time and enjoyed the hell out of it. I love watching big, slimey, human-creature things done with practical effects (as in The Thing and Slither) and From Beyond didn't fail me. I kinda felt like the story it was based on was short and simple (and after watching the interview with Gordon it seems I was correct), but seeing someone's brains get sucked through their eye socket never gets old.

Great flick, and good review too.
post #4 of 37
Nice review Chris.

One would think with a 7.5 score, everyone who hasn't seen this film would do so immediately.

And by everyone, I mean Alex.
post #5 of 37
I'm so disappointed in Alex. Not because he hasn't seen From Beyond. I'm disappointed he hasn't posted to say "I've got see this one soon."
post #6 of 37
Quote:
Originally Posted by thejumbo
Good review - well done.
I second that. I remeber seeing this movie when it 1st came out on VHA years ago, & not liking it much (I'm one of those rabid HPL fans you mention). But everyone seems to be so into it, I may have to give this another watch. I was surprised, considering the generally glowing tone of the review, that Chris only gave it a 7.5. It was very well written, indeed. Chris should also get points for correct usage of "Grand Guignol" in a sentence. Kudos.
post #7 of 37
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by BobClark
I'm so disappointed in Alex. Not because he hasn't seen From Beyond. I'm disappointed he hasn't posted to say "I've got see this one soon."
We're not supposed to do that anymore.

And thanks for the praise, Iggy. It's always appreciated.

ETA: I really waffled on the final score, almost settling on an 8, but at the end of the day I felt that the 7.5 was quite fair. I mean, I love From Beyond, but it's definitely not what I'd call a great film by any stretch of the imagination. It's awesome for what it is, but what it is is a slightly above average genre flick.
post #8 of 37
Guess what I just watched?

Time to find another classic I haven't seen to rip on me for, ya bastards.
post #9 of 37
Well, what did you think?
post #10 of 37
I love the basement lamprey. That creature deserves its own film.

Nice review (although I still would have gone with the 8.0- but that's just my opinion)!
post #11 of 37
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Alex Riviello
Guess what I just watched?

Time to find another classic I haven't seen to rip on me for, ya bastards.
HOLY SHIT.

It truly is the end of an era.

P.S. Thanks Minsky!
post #12 of 37
Quote:
Originally Posted by Alex Riviello
Guess what I just watched?

Time to find another classic I haven't seen to rip on me for, ya bastards.
And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying, as it were a voice of thunder, "Come and behold!"
- Revelation 6:1
post #13 of 37
Watched this for the first time recently myself and I quite enjoyed it. In fact, I enjoyed one particular scene so much that I now will not give a recommendation to any movie that doesn't have a vamped up Barbara Crampton molesting a comatose Jeffrey Combs right before Ken Foree walks into the room wearing a pair of ultra tight, stop-light red skivvies.
post #14 of 37
Just in case you're not following the right threads, this film is now on Instant View and it's the most scared you'll ever be of the color pink. (Unless you're stricken with a Lovecraftian vagiphobia.) It sort of peters out in the last 15 minutes, but goddamn it does Barbara Crampton look great naked. On top of that, it's a spectacular setup with a great cast and has all the gory fun (minus David Gale) of Re-Animator. I love Pretorius' creepy tomcat robe and his body covered in silver swinger hair.
post #15 of 37
Quote:
Originally Posted by Phil View Post
Just in case you're not following the right threads, this film is now on Instant View and it's the most scared you'll ever be of the color pink. (Unless you're stricken with a Lovecraftian vagiphobia.) It sort of peters out in the last 15 minutes, but goddamn it does Barbara Crampton look great naked. On top of that, it's a spectacular setup with a great cast and has all the gory fun (minus David Gale) of Re-Animator. I love Pretorius' creepy tomcat robe and his body covered in silver swinger hair.
Indeed! Watching it for the first time as we speak. Goddamn I miss practical effects.
post #16 of 37
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pvt. Spunkmeyer View Post
Watched this for the first time recently myself and I quite enjoyed it. In fact, I enjoyed one particular scene so much that I now will not give a recommendation to any movie that doesn't have a vamped up Barbara Crampton molesting a comatose Jeffrey Combs right before Ken Foree walks into the room wearing a pair of ultra tight, stop-light red skivvies.
New sig!
post #17 of 37
Just finished it. Love it to bits. It's like I'm 12 again - I'm giddy! Can not BELIEVE I didn't stumble upon this when I was a kid.
post #18 of 37
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by JGButler View Post
Just finished it. Love it to bits. It's like I'm 12 again - I'm giddy! Can not BELIEVE I didn't stumble upon this when I was a kid.
Whoa. I was surprised to see this thread pop up again. So happy you loved it, Butler. It's one of those films for which my esteem just continues to grow as the years wear on. Not a great movie, but perfect for what it is.
post #19 of 37
Most people are nostalgic for The Goonies or some other shit from their youth, but for me it was always From Beyond. The big difference between the two, this movie rules just as much now as it did when I was 10, well actually more because the director's cut has the eyeball scene. Ocular violence is always a plus.
post #20 of 37
This just went OOP about 2 weeks ago, so if you don't have the dvd yet, you should pick it up before it sky rockets.

I remember picking it up the release day. It was a nice change to see the Director's Cut, instead of that grainy LP vhs that I rented a year or two before.
post #21 of 37
Re-Animator and From Beyond is quite the one-two punch. Barbara Crampton cements her iconic scream queen status and Jeffrey Combs does his creepy thing--but let's not overlook Ken Foree!
post #22 of 37
Or his forehead!!
post #23 of 37
Especially when Ken Foree is making huge dumpling stew and running around in jockey underwear!
post #24 of 37
Yeah I love how he does that entire scene in his speedo and then gives Crampton hell for running around in her underwear.
post #25 of 37
Quote:
Originally Posted by BubWilliams View Post
Most people are nostalgic for The Goonies or some other shit from their youth, but for me it was always From Beyond. The big difference between the two, this movie rules just as much now as it did when I was 10, well actually more because the director's cut has the eyeball scene. Ocular violence is always a plus.

I've avoided revisiting certain favorites from my teenage years. My tastes have drastically changed over the years, and I'm not as indiscriminate when it comes to horror as I once was. I wish I would have just left some of the stuff I once loved as simply the memory of loving it. Having said that, I especially loved From Beyond. Probably more so than Re-Animator. I'm glad to hear it still holds up. Think I'll finally pay a visit to an old friend tonight.
post #26 of 37
Dr. Praetorius being into S&M just made the movie all the more crazy. Although it did provide Barbara Crampton in that NICE outfit.

Also great seeing that Ken Foree is the only one that doesn't let any of the stuff get to him. He stays strong!
post #27 of 37
I think it starts to run out of steam once we're back in the hospital. But I love how Pretorius' evolving shape as the movie goes on, and that pink color is just spectacular.

Edit: I seem to have conveyed these sentiments already. Uh, let's see... think, man, think! I think Ken Foree leaves the film too early. And I love the "Look at yourself!" business with the ceiling mirror.
post #28 of 37
Ken Foree shouldn't have been taken out PERIOD. He's the secret weapon of the movie.
post #29 of 37
He does leave too early but his exit is pretty awesome.

And I do have to say I have such a softspot for piece-meal labs and set design in older movies. Just grab a bunch of random techy-looking things and slap em together. I love how the "resonator" was just a water heater with some cables attached and a bunch of giant tuning forks.
post #30 of 37
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rene (Mr.Eko) View Post
This just went OOP about 2 weeks ago, so if you don't have the dvd yet, you should pick it up before it sky rockets.
Wow, glad I bought my replacement copy... as the first one I bought mysteriously disappeared. The person I lent it to shrugged at me when I asked for it back.
post #31 of 37
That DVD looks gorgeous on my plasma screen. Foree is a blast, but also comes off like the textbook example of The Black Guy In The Horror Movie (especially once he's half the man he used to be).

Love watching Crampton in all her outfits from this movie, including Sexy Librarian with big 80s glasses. Is it strange that I'd love to see Heather Graham do a photoshoot or short film that fetishistically recreates Crampton's scenes and costumes?

But the guy screaming "That's The Snake Man!!! That's him!!!" is the best character in the movie.
post #32 of 37
Just in case anyone hasn't seen this:

post #33 of 37
With all the effects and the body transformation stuff, the only thing that actually made me say "EEEEWWWWWW" was when Crampton bit the pineal gland in half. It was awesome, but yeesh - *shudder*
post #34 of 37
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Phil View Post
Just in case anyone hasn't seen this:

Yep.
post #35 of 37
I wondered if Mrs. Dr. Block's look in PLANET TERROR was influenced by her at all...

post #36 of 37
Quote:
Originally Posted by Phil View Post
Just in case anyone hasn't seen this
Yeah, after 20 years of wondering about it, I finally saw that Playboy spread a couple years back. Disappointingly typical 80s airbrushed softcore stuff. When Fangoria had mentioned that Crampton posed with monsters for Playboy, I imagined she was actually posing with the monsters from the movie. The mind boggles at what they could have done with that basement thing.
post #37 of 37
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rene (Mr.Eko) View Post
Ken Foree shouldn't have been taken out PERIOD. He's the secret weapon of the movie.
Yeah, I strongly agree with this. Foree added a great deal of humor to such an odd, disgusting film. Once he's taken out of the equation, the film has no balance of horror and comedy (Ala Re-Animator), leaving a somewhat uncomfortable film to watch.
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Creature Corner Main
CHUD.com Community › Forums › CREATURE CORNER › Creature Corner Main › DVD Review: From Beyond