From Beyond (1986)

Dr Edward Pretorius (Ted Sorel) and his assistant Crawford Tillinghast (Jeffrey Combs) have developed “The Resonator”, an elaborate machine to stimulate the sixth sense through the long-dormant pineal gland – an undeveloped sensory organ located in the human forehead.

When Crawford activates the apparatus, he sees creatures flying in the air and summons Dr Pretorius. The experiment goes awry, but Pretorius refuses to turn off the Resonator. Meanwhile, their neighbour calls the police, and when the police officers arrive, they find Crawford trying to flee from the house and Dr Pretorius with his head twisted off.

Crawford is sent to a mental institution under the supervision of the sadistic Dr Bloch (Carolyn Purdy-Gordon, the director’s wife), but sympathetic psychiatrist Dr Katherine McMichaels (Barbara Crampton, pictured) decides to help him.

With Detective Bubba Brownlee (Ken Foree), Katherine accompanies Crawford to see the Resonator. After they turn on the machine, Dr Pretorius returns in mutant form and attacks them – It’s the beginning of a very weird and gory night.

This loose adaptation of a short story by HP Lovecraft contains all the distinctive Stuart Gordon directorial trademarks: kinky sex (a stimulated pineal also sends the libido into overdrive); gallons of red goo; a twisted sense of humour, and arrogant characters whose inability to bridle their lust for power and success becomes their ultimate downfall.

From Beyond was filmed at the Dinocitta studio in Italy with an Italian crew in order to save money. Four separate SFX teams worked on the movie’s effects.

Crawford Tillinghast
Jeffrey Combs
Dr Katherine McMichaels
Barbara Crampton
Dr Edward Pretorius
Ted Sorel
Bubba Brownlee
Ken Foree
Dr Bloch
Carolyn Purdy-Gordon
Neighbour Lady
Bunny Summers
Jordan Fields
Bruce McGuire
Ambulance Driver
Del Russel
Paramedic
Dale Wyatt
Nurse
Karen Christenfeld
Patient in Straitjacket
Andrew Lord Miller
Shock Technician
John Leamer
Bondage Girl
Regina Bleesz

Director
Stuart Gordon