Customer Reviews

From Beyond the Grave

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The film's plot is good, with Peter Cushing as a London antiques shop keeper, whose shop is theived by customers. These customers are killed by the items they stole. David Warner cheats Cushing to get a mirror for a lower price, but is himself killed by a ghost demon living the mirror after the demon has forced Warner to kill women for him. Ian Bannen steals a war medal from Cushing's shop, and later meets a witch and her war crippled father (Angela and real-life father Donald Pleasance) who kill him in answer to Bannen's son's prayers. Ian Carmichael puts a lower price on a snuff box, cheating Cushing of the real price, but is himself killed when a demon from the box possesses his wife (Nyree Dawn-Porter) to kill him. Only Ian Ogilvy gives Cushing the real price for an old door, and while Cushing counts the money, a demon from the Blue Room (created when the door is put up in Ogilvy's room) attacks both him and his wife (Lesley Anne-Down). Also, a robber tries to steal money from Cushing's shop, but is killed in a box of spikes. This film is one of 6 made by Amicus, each film having short stories within them. The other films are Dr Terror's House of Horrors, Tales From the Crypt, The Vault of Horror, The House That Dripped Blood, and Asylum.

FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE is another great anthology movie from Amicus (Tales From The Crypt, Vault Of Horror, Asylum, Dr. Terror's House Of Horrors, etc.). This time out we get Peter Cushing as the owner of an antique shop named "Temptations", where customers get far more than they bargained for! Each patron is presented w/ the opportunity to somehow swindel Cushing's character, and walk out w/ some item. In THE GATE CRASHER, David Warner gets a priceless, 400yo mirror, by pretending it's a piece of junk. Once he gets it home, Warner finds out that his prize possession comes w/ a costly, bloody catch! In AN ACT OF KINDNESS, a man takes a medal from the shop in order to prove his military valor to a street-merchant (Donald Pleasance), who invites him home for tea. Pleasance introduces the man to his daughter who is nothing like the sweet gal she appears to be! THE ELEMENTAL concerns a man who cheats Cushing for a snuff-box, and ends up w/ a tiny, invisible, and quite homicidal demon on his shoulder! A medium offers to help him out, and both comedy and terror ensue! Finally, THE DOOR has a man who buys an ancient, ornately carved door from the shop. He takes it home to put on his supply room. Little does he know, that someone now lives on the other side! Someone very old and extremely evil! FBTG is solidly entertaining throughout it's running time, and delivers good shivers! Add it to your horror-anthology collection...

Down an unassuming little side street, lies an unassuming little shop, called Temptations Ltd.
It is advisable upon entering this shop to be honest, and not to lie or cheat the proprietor (Peter Cushing),
no matter how much you may be tempted.
For if you do, something life threatening or at least life changing will happen to you.
Shoplifting here carries a very high price indeed.
With this interesting and highly original premise, I think what follows are some of the best Horror short stories ever committed to film.
~~~~
"The Gate Crasher" - a rather blood thirsty tale, in the literal sense, with David Warner and involving an Antique Mirror. One of his friends has the idea of holding a seance in the same room as the mirror, a very bad idea..... FEED ME....BLOOD.
"An Act of Kindness" - a man with an unhappy married life tries to impress a down on his luck army veteran, by stealing an important medal from Temptations Ltd. A very bad move, which leads to severe family discord.
"The Elemental" - Ian Carmichael plays a fastidious and devious civil servant, who cheats Cushing out of the full price of a snuff box by substituting a cheaper price tag for the real one. As Cushing amusingly says as Carmichaels character leaves the shop. "I hope you enjoy snuffing it", Carmichaels wife soon corrects his devious habits, permanently.
"The Door" - A young couple purchase a 16th century door, one night the young man opens the door and finds not the stationery cupboard that should be there but a mysterious blue room. And the room's owner isn't the kind of person you would like living next door to.
Interweaved between these stories are scenes of a dodgy looking character attempting to enter the shop, but hurrying away everytime a customer enters, he ends up getting the Point.
The morality of this film is a simple one, honesty is always the best policy.
~~~~
If you like multi story British horror films, you may like these, I find them most satisfying and I hope you do.
Dr Terror's House of Horrors.(1964)
Torture Garden.(1967)
The House that Dripped Blood.(1970)
Asylum.(1972)
Tales From the Crypt.(1972)
Vault of Horror.(1973)
The Monster Club.(1980)
Happy Shivers.

Nice print and uncut. With all the big disappointment lately about the awful Fox cut version of 'Vault of Horror' (which preceeded this in the Amicus horror anthology series), this is a pleasant release to cheer us all up! Trailer in good shape too. Well done Warner!!!

Amicus Productions were a sort of "sister", company to Britain's famed Hammer Studios and in their heyday during the late 1960's and early 1970's had as their speciality these multi-story horror tales that all had a linking element as their basis. In the case of "From Beyond the Grave", made quite late in Amicus' production of these horror tales, this link is a strange little antique store called Temptations Ltd. run by an equally strange and mysterious proprietor (Peter Cushing). Each of the four stories included revolves around various individuals who make a purchase from the shop but in one way or another attempt to either steal or short change what they owe the Proprietor for the items in question. All pay dearly for their attempts to "get a better deal" and find that they would have been better off paying full price.

Story One is titled "The Gate Crasher", and involves Edward Charlton (David Warner), a trendy Londoner who manages to cut down the asking price of an Antique French Mirror by saying falsely that the mirror is not all original. Edward however gets more than he bargained for when once placed in his apartment an evil spirit from beyond the mirror begins to take control of his life driving Edward to even commit murder to satisfy the spirit's lust for blood which will enable him to grow in strength and escape from his confines behind the mirror. Once this is achieved Edward finds himself in an eerie replay of the spirits own situation trapped behind the mirror pane trying to lure other owners into commiting murder for him.

Story Two is titled "An Act of Kindness", in involves lonely business man Christopher Lowe (Ian Bannen), taking a military decoration from the antique shop despite needing authorisation to purchase it, to impress a strange street peddler and ex service man Jim (Donald Pleasence), who he befriends while on his way to work. Trapped in a loveless marriage with shrewish wife Mabel (Diana Dors), Christopher soon is invited to Jim's home where he meets Jim's mysterious daughter Emily (Angela Pleasance). They begin an affair however things begin to get out of hand when Mabel dies mysteriously and it is revealed that Emily and her father are not all they appear to be. Christopher's subsequent marriage to Emily however also provides a surprising twist from within Christopher's own family which costs him dearly.

Story Three is titled "The Elemental", and sees Reggie Warren (Ian Carmichael), swap the asking prices between two silver snuff boxes at Temptations Ltd short changing the Proprietor by a large sum. However luck does not come his way when on the way home on the train he is approached by the eccentric Madame Orloff (Margaret Leighton), clairvoyant extraordinaire who indicates with her second sight that his shoulder has been invaded by an invisible being or "elemental", that is trying to enter his body and take over. At first dismissed as an eccentric fool strange happenings begin to occur at Reggie's house including disturbing attacks on his wife Susan (Nyree Dawn Porter),which indicate Madame Orloff knew what she was talking about. Called in to do an exorcism the procedure is successful in removing the spirit from Reggie's body however it takes on a disturbing new form that costs Reggie very dearly.

Story Four is titled "The Door", and involves wealthy young Londoner William Seaton (Ian Ogilvy), who cuts down the price on an elaborately carved old door for sale at Temptations Ltd. Once installed in his home however the mysterious door reveals it has strange powers of its own and creates a whole new dimension behind it transforming a storage cupboard into a strange room from another time. Inside this room lives a demon from the reign of Charles the Second who is intent on getting out and attacks both William and his wife Rosemary (Lesley Anne Down). Only by destroying the door with an axe does William finally free himself from the demon it possesses when with each blow the demon and the room both slowly disintergrate.

These four short stories tied around misdeeds in the antique store and the ultimate high price the purchasers pay for these misdeeds makes for most enjoyable entertainment. "From Beyond the Grave", boasts a superlative British cast that add tremendously to the quality of each of the stories. Headed by the legendary Peter Cushing almost unrecognisable under his bushy eyebrows and heavy makeup as the mysterious shop owner who always gets his price one way or the other, each story is ideally cast with the likes of Ian Bannen, Diana Dors, Margaret Leighton and David Warner all bringing their individual expertise to their stories. Combining tales involving, witchcraft, the occult, and supernatural occurences all the stories hold something of interest for the horror lover and the main set of Temptations Ltd. seen in between each of the stories has a suitably musty and cobweb shrouded appearance to make it the ideal introduction to each macabre story. Amicus had a real flair for these type of multi story horror tales and another favourite of mine by them is the classic "The House that Dripped Blood" set around a suitably scary old house. For plenty of thrills and unexpected twists dont miss one of the last of these type of horror efforts from Amicus Productions "From Beyond the Grave".

I first saw From Beyond the Grave in 1975 (at Co-Op City Cinema) when it played in the Bronx. I saw it with my then bride to be and an old friend who was also a seasoned horror film buff. Naturally, we enjoyed this Amicus film and my future wife thought we were both crazy. Actually, this film was a cut above other Amicus productions since it featured Peter Cushing as the owner of the curio shop (Temptations) and the common link between the tales. The first story was pretty weak, but the next two were really fine. This DVD is a good buy for any fans of Amicus films.

Briefly, Peter Cushing, who plays the owner of Temptations wants to tempt you with some curio in his shop. If you secumb he provides a "surprise gift with every purchase". Customers who switch pricing labels, shoplift or some other similar act are dispatched with their special surprise ending.

A startling cast of eerie British eccentrics gathered together on one delirious slice of quaint gothic.
A solid roll-call of weirdness conspiring to chill and thrill in a darkly humorous, deadly shiver-some collection of short stories by R. Chetwynd Hayes; transferred to the screen by the excellent Amicus Productions.

'FBTG' is a portmanteau movie (ie. it's divided into segments); a cinema sub-genre whose horror strain began in the UK with the (still) scary
'Dead of Night' in 1945.

Peter Cushing (with an extra-ordinary accent; faintly Yorkshire but anyone's guess..) plays the laconic owner of Temptations Ltd: a side-street antique shop into which a desperate array of cheats and criminals venture for a 'deal', but each deservedly ends up on the losing end of their particular terrible transaction.
Each customer is as tricky as they come as they try to rip old Cushing off, but each finds adjusting his price brings a greater price of its own.

The opening gory story sees the brilliantly sinister David Warner conning old Peter into selling him a mirror for a tenth its worth and finding out far too late it wasn't the wisest course of action he's ever taken. Something nasty and demanding lives in the mirror, and it needs blood to facilitate its transmutation to the real world.
Warner is excellent as a Poe-type figure descending into madness Trapped in his corpse-strewn apartment, compelled to spill blood for the thing in the mirror.
'Alice Through the Looking Glass' this tale certainly ain't.

Twitchy Ian Bannen's in the next story( remember him in the Peter Collinson/babysitter-in-peril thriller - 'Fright'?), playing a hen-pecked office clerk who invents himself an elaborate fantasy military history to impress a street shoelace salesman(!), a sly and understated Donald Pleasence.
Stealing a DSO medal from Temptations Ltd, he then finds himself embroiled with Pleasence and his spooky, wiccan offspring (played by real-life daughter Angela).
As his own home life is wretched, he finds the lavish food and unconditional respect he enjoys at the Pleasence's much more to his liking.
His seduction by Pleasence's alarming daughter is incredible: "I wish to serve you. I will do anything you ask, you only have to order....." she whispers - oblivious to decades of suffrage and bra-burning - and naturally he can't resist.
Needless to say it all ends badly, with a great twist (you WON'T see it coming); all seemingly overseen by a tut-tutting Cushing in his dusty emporium.

Poor old Ian Carmichael is the next to fall to Temptation; naughtily switching the price on a snuff box and finding himself with an evil spirit eating into his shoulder.
Engaging the services of a batty medium who trashes his house ousting the creature (known as an elemental) it seems all is well, but it's only the beginning....
This is my favourite episode. Funny and scary in all the right places, with some lightning witty lines and acted to perfection by Ealing favourite Carmichael; Nyree Dawn Porter - superb as his increasingly terrified wife; and Margaret Leighton - delightfully dotty as the avaricious exorcist.
A magical segment even in such elevated company.

The final story is probably the weakest but is still good. Ian Ogilvy (" you took him from me, YOU TOOK HIM FROM ME...!!!") 'purchases' a door which of course, has a deSade type occultist and sadist inhabiting the 'Blue Room' beyond it.
This story also has a decent little hook, and has the desperately sexy Lesley Ann Down in horrific peril as a redeeming perk.

The film finishes with a rather clumsy culmination of the framing story, with a robber who's been constantly disturbed by the various 'clients', finally having a violent crack at poor old 'defenceless' Peter.
Unwise.

'FBTG' is ace. Atmospheric, enthusiastically directed, constantly amusing while at the same time delivering delicious old-fashioned chills.
It has a surprising amount of gore - for those of you interested in that type of thing - and Cushing, mad accent and all, hold's the whole thing together with a wicked twinkle.

So horror, humour and hantiques (I am REALLY sorry!); 'FBTG' may not be a horror Rembrandt but it's certainly an esteemed and worthwhile objet d'art.

Well, seeing as I co-wrote the screenplay when I was at the London Film School, the film helped me carve a career as a screenwriter and beyond. And so I'm quite amazed that, after all these years, it's still considered to be a horror classic. Which is nice.

Fact is, it's regarded as one of the finer collection of stories to be produced by the British film industry.

And the packaging, quality, marketing and distribution by Amazon is also pretty amazing. Keep it up. Hey, I've been wanting to find it on DVD for years.

Raymond Christodoulou

The term "Final Sale" has a real application and new meaning here. Our friend, Peter Cushing is actually the Devil in disguise and the film features five stories that center around purchases made by characters in an antique shop. All but one of the purchasers try to "beat the devil" and well, you can guess what the results are. I will cut to the chase and speak only of the best story that concerns the only honest customer and his purchase of an antique door. Once mounted, it becomes a doorway to the past and is actually a trap by the former owner to collect souls as part of his black magic rituals. This story has visual power and is truly errie. The passage can be seen by the viewer as "active" when the door shines a bluish haze around the central design of the door. It also seems to be able to unlatch itself, and acts like a mousetrap, snapping shut the moment the proper (in this case, female) soul enters from the other side. The film cleverly shows Cushing counting out the money given by the purchaser and concludes with his survival as Cushing counts the last pound note! Similar to other films like "Torture Garden" and "Dr. Terror's House of Horrors" this is an entertaining collection that will keep you interested.

When I first watched this film I was 12 and it scared the [...] out of me. Today, after viewing this film again, I still find it chilling with its high-pitched score combined with an adequate use of atmosphere, common to most British horror films. With a fine cast of Peter Cushing, Ian Bannen, David Warner and Margaret Leighton and its clever setting of an antiques shop this film deserves a place in horror history.