Finally, Finally, Finally!!! The DVD Gods have finally decided to get into bed with H.P. Lovecraft's ancient Gods and agree to release Stuart Gordon's "From Beyond" on DVD. Let's see, it came out in 1986… was released once (that I know of) on VHS and has languished ever since. I always thought this was strange considering his earlier film "Re-Animator" is considered a cult classic and has been released on DVD at least 4,502 times (or so it seems). "From Beyond" is every bit as good, and has been considered a classic by fans for just as long… but somehow it just never made the leap to DVD. I will say it was worth the wait, and a little further on I'll tell you why. Also based on an H.P. Lovecraft short story "From Beyond" re-united Jeffery Combs and Barbara Crampton in a story every bit as lurid (I love that word) as "Re-Animator" and about twice as schizophrenic.

We are introduced to Dr. Edward Pretorious (Ted Sorel), a mad (yes…MAD) scientist who has invented "The Resonator", a device capable of stimulating the pineal gland and allowing access to a sixth sense. When his assistant (Combs) is sent to an insane asylum, accused of murder following an experiment gone wrong, Dr. Katherine McMichaels (Crampton) sets out to prove his innocence… and unfortunately continue Pretorious' work.

Sounds like a fairly reasonable description of a fairly straight forward movie doesn't it? But let me tell you, "From Beyond" goes 'Way Beyond' the realms of peculiar, bizarre or even just weird. 'The Resonator' not only opens up a sixth sense, but it allows those exposed to it to see creatures that live in a parallel dimension. Unfortunately, these creatures can also see… and interact… with us. But it also releases inhibitions, making it almost impossible to find a way to shut the darn thing off - for lack of wanting to. This release also gives the director a good reason to get Crampton out of her clothes (which is always a good thing!).

So now we come to it. The reason why I said earlier that it was worth the wait. As it turns out, this isn't the version of the movie most of us hardcore horror fans saw 20 years ago… oh no. This is an al-new Unrated Director's Cut. And this isn't just a thrown together Director's Cut like we get most of the time. When the movie originally came out, the MPAA (Nazis that they are) forced Gordon to make extensive cuts to the movie in order to get it released. Well, it seems that the prints of the excised scenes were just found within the last couple of years floating around in a film can. These prints were taken and digitally restored so when edited the scenes back in, they perfectly match the rest of the film. Unless you know where these scenes are, you wouldn't be able to tell the difference quality-wise. Where you can see the difference is in the content, which allows for more disturbingly sexual and grotesquely gory images.

But having this completely restored print is only icing on the cake. The DVD also includes a new commentary by Gordon, producer Brian Yuzna and stars Combs and Crampton. The commentary is full of recollections of the shoot, and all four sound like they are genuinely having fun being back together to share the memories. You'll also find an interview with composer Richard Band, some storyboard comparisons, and a photo montage. But one of the more interesting features focuses on the scenes that were found and shows how they looked before and after the restoration process and the difference is amazing.

I'm glad to see that "From Beyond" will not only now be enjoyed by a new generation of horror fans, but they will have the added benefit of seeing the film the way Gordon originally intended it to be seen. This is something that they will be able to share with the legions of older fans who are only now seeing this version for the first time.

Directed by: Stuart Gordon
Starring: Jeffrey Combs, Barbara Crampton, Ken Foree, Ted Sorel
Extras: Audio Commentary by Director Stuart Gordon and the Cast, The Director's Perspective Featurette, The Editing Room - Lost and Found Featurette, Interview with the Composer, Photo Montage, Storyboard to Film Comparisons with Introduction
Specifications: Widescreen (1.85:1), Dolby Surround
Studio: MGM
Release Date: 9/11/2007
Region 1
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Website
Website

We'll give From Beyond: Unrated Director's Cut an A..