Beyond the Door

Beyond the Door, also titled The Devil Within Her, was inspired by the classic Rosemary’s Baby and went on to gross millions at the box office.  Poorly received in general, Beyond the Door still managed to bag two sequels, although unofficially. Mario Bava’s Shock was retitled Beyond the Door II, and the even more of an outcast Amok Train from 1989 turned into Beyond the Door III. 

Jessica Barrett (British actress Juliet Mills of TV’s Passions) is pregnant with her third child, unbeknownst to her that it is the cause of The Devil’s toying. Husband Robert Barrett (Gabriele Lavia) is concerned for his wife, who has been acting very moody and unhealthy. At first she wants to have an abortion, but her decision strikingly changes in defence of her fetus. She wakes up one night and runs out into the middle of a rainstorm, she’s coughing up blood in the bathroom, and her voice cracks to a dark low state. Is she possessed? Children Gail and Ken (Barbara Fiorini and David Colin Jr.) are growing scared of their mother when she twists her head all the way around her body and makes the entire room shake. Only Dimitri (Richard Johnson), Jessica’s old boyfriend from ten years back, knows what to do when it is revealed that the woman is indeed being controlled by Satan. He made a deal with the dark lord to deliver the horrible child in exchange for his life’s renewal, but at this point, he’s on the road to save Jessica as well. Chi sei? “Who are you” Jessica? 

The opening of Beyond the Door, before the actual film starts, has a monologue by Satan himself, in a rather well presented speech informing the viewer that he will have an important role to play in the following story. He also reminds us that the stranger who walks by us, talks by us, or sits next to us in the movie theater, could very well be him. It’s cheesy like those older announcements beforehand, spoken by an unseen voice, who warn us about the graphic details about to come, or that whenever you see a certain image appear on screen, to look away. It adds a wonderful dated feel to the viewing, before experiencing the other dated effects that pop up later in the feature. Perhaps the first thing you will see (or hear) that is doused in the times, which here is the 70s, would be the perfect, innocent music that rolls over the credits as Jessica is driving Ken and Gail to the supermarket. Warren Wilson’s “Bargain with the Devil” is bang-up good, giving Jessica even more flavor. You see where this film could be turning. 

Jessica is a doll. My God! Although Juliet Mills is slightly past thirty years old in the film, and looking about ten years older, she’s beautiful, charming the camera with her adorable smile, cute British accent, and proud acting talent. This makes the viewer all the more saddened when our wonderful leading lady is transformed into a demoniac possessed terror. And her poor family, who are certainly the shared batch of fleshed out characters.  

Now, on to the horror. Ken’s birthday doesn’t go as well for his mother when she becomes sick, vomiting away, hearing the voice of an ancient dark being – THAT ancient dark being. There is a lot to make fun of in Beyond the Door, which could be why it has been deemed as a horrible film and a rip-off. But there are honest spooks too and entertaining reactions.  Some scenes can really take you by surprise. When Ken is sleeping in his bed, Jessica, in a tranced state, moves over to him and kisses her son on the lips. Juliet Mills turns into the banana peel chomper, downing a dirty leftover from the public grounds.  Jessica, just like Regan in The Exorcist, twists her head all the way around her body, revealing a crazed look upon her eerie expression. Technically, the effect is better completed in The Exorcist, but Jessica’s greenish-yellow eyes and darkened teeth creep the viewer out more, and the turn has more suspense. And I haven’t even mentioned the very best scene in the film. Beyond the Door’s bedroom shake scene is hands down the most powerful sequence present, partnered with glowing eyed dolls, walking stuffed animals, flickering lights, and a terrified couple of kids. Light beams through the floorboards’ cracks while an odd mixture of sound plays as the children escape. 

When Dimitri steps in, he wants to deliver this baby, for his own and Jessica’s sake. More silly camera effects and levitation scenes later (poor Robert gets banged up and thrown across the room telepathically) Jessica and Dimitri have a final confrontation. Black goop is sprayed in the face of good, and when we find out that all of this was just for The Devil’s amusement, anything can happen. But really, what else could the reason be? The Devil is all powerful, and the only reason to possess someone would be to act like a major dick. 

Beyond the Door is thoroughly entertaining crap ... it’s serious, eventful, and artistic.  Beyond the Door is more than just an Exorcist clone, it is a part of box office history that, ignoring its flaws, can chill and thrill the open-minded audience.  (Josh G., Oh the Horror!)