From Beyond

From Beyond is a 1986 American science-fiction body horror film directed by Stuart Gordon, loosely based on the short story of the same name by H. P. Lovecraft. It stars Jeffrey Combs, Barbara Crampton, Ken Foree and Ted Sorel.

From Beyond centers on a pair of scientists attempting to stimulate the pineal gland with a device called the Resonator, a machine that allows whoever is within range to see beyond normal perceptible reality and see strange creatures from another dimension flying in the air. The assistant scientist, Dr. Crawford Tillinghast (Combs), activates the machine and is bitten by one of them. He notifies the other scientist, Pretorius, about the machine’s functionality. Pretorius, driven by lust for power and knowledge, turns the machine on and becomes mad with the feelings the Resonator causes. The creatures then drags Pretorius into their world, returning him as a grotesque shape-shifting monster that preys upon the others at the laboratory.

WARNING: Viewer discretion – following video has adult/gory scenes

Director Stuart Gordon had previously worked with actors Jeffrey Combs and Barbara Crampton on Re-Animator, and he cast them in part because he had become used to working with a company of actors during his time in theater, and felt that doing the same thing with Lovecraft movies would allow the actors to adapt more quickly to his direction. The film was shot in Italy with an Italian crew in order to save money and as with his earlier film Re-Animator, Gordon made use of medical advisors to be sure that the actions taken by the doctors and nurses of the film followed proper medical procedures. Four separate special effects teams worked on the effects for From Beyond.