Beyond the Door Blu-ray Review

Arrow Video’s Blu-ray release of "Beyond the Door" presents the film with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio. The transfer's foundation is a meticulous 2K scan of the original 35mm camera negative by Eurolab, enhanced through grading and restoration at R3Store Studios. The overall video presentation boasts vivid colors and an impressive level of fine detail when set in bright, outdoor environments. While darker scenes occasionally suffer from reduced detail clarity and appear slightly roughhewn, the overall image remains clean, devoid of major signs of aging or compression issues.

Two versions are offered: the 108-minute uncut English export version and the 99-minute US theatrical cut. Both versions maintain organic film grain and authentic detail representation. The US theatrical cut includes sections scanned separately, which introduces minor quality variations that aren't excessively distracting. Noteworthy are the intended optical freezes and a tendency for grain spikes during optical dissolves, yet these are contextualized within the film’s stylistic choices. Despite these minor inconsistencies and some unavoidable shifts in image quality due to the source materials, this release is a significant step up from previous home video incarnations, effectively presenting the film in a pristine condition likely to be unparalleled on home platforms.

"Beyond the Door" shines in its audio presentation, leveraging LPCM Mono to deliver a rich, immersive experience that sets it apart from contemporaries like "The Exorcist" and "Rosemary's Baby." Franco Micalizzi’s iconic, funky, disco-inspired score exudes vibrancy and clarity, maintaining the film's eerie atmosphere without distortion, crackling, popping, or hissing. The dialogue remains consistently strong and clear, ensuring that critical auditory details are preserved and making this release a substantial improvement over previous versions.

The 1.0 PCM track faithfully reproduces the original mono soundtrack for both versions of the movie, providing a pristine listening experience. Excellent sound prioritization, particularly during sequences where Jessica is possessed by her inner demon, enhances viewer immersion. This meticulous attention to audio detail marks this Blu-ray release as likely the best auditory presentation "Beyond the Door" has ever received on home video.

The Blu-ray release of "Beyond the Door" boasts an impressive array of extras, seamlessly blending extensive archival materials with newly produced content. Notable highlights include enthusiastic commentaries from key cast and crew members, such as director Ovidio G. Assonitis and actress Juliet Mills. The new interviews with Assonitis, co-writer/cinematographer Roberto D'Ettorre Piazzoli, and composer Franco Micalizzi are particularly insightful, giving audiences a comprehensive look at the film's production and legacy. Furthermore, the feature-length documentary "Italy Possessed" dives deep into the realm of Exorcist rip-offs, providing invaluable context to the film's place in horror history. Each segment is presented in high-quality 1080p, ensuring an engaging viewing experience.

Extras included in this disc:

• Introduction by Juliet Mills and Lee Christian: Quick intro before the film.
• The Devil and Me: Interview with Ovidio G. Assonitis.
• Barrett's Hell: Interview with co-writer/cinematographer Roberto D'Ettorre Piazzoli.
• Beyond the Music: Interview with composer Franco Micalizzi.
• The Devil's Face: Interview with camera operator Maurizio Maggi.
• Image Gallery: Collection of 59 stills including posters and promotional materials.
• Audio Commentary with Ovidio G. Assonitis: Archival commentary.
• Audio Commentary with Juliet Mills: Archival commentary.

"Beyond the Door," directed by Ovidio G. Assonitis, capitalized on the burgeoning popularity of demonic possession films like "The Exorcist" and "Rosemary’s Baby." Despite notable similarities that prompted Warner Bros. to launch a copyright infringement lawsuit, the film managed to carve out its own niche within the genre. Set in San Francisco, the story revolves around Jessica Barrett (Juliet Mills), a pregnant woman displaying increasingly disturbing symptoms that escalate from vomiting blood to supernatural events like a 180-degree head turn. Her husband Robert (Gabriele Lavia) soon realizes that her pregnancy is far from normal, especially as a figure from Jessica's past, Dimitri (Richard Johnson), comes into the picture with potential answers for her demonic behavior.

While "Beyond the Door" emulates certain visual aspects and thematic elements from "The Exorcist," it diverges significantly enough to create its own unique narrative. The plot melds the concept of a woman carrying the Devil’s child, reminiscent of "Rosemary’s Baby," with the grotesque possession seen in "The Exorcist." The film foregoes exorcism rituals and religious undertones, bypassing further litigious pitfalls while making a unique addition to the genre. This creative liberty allows the film to stand out among its contemporaries, even if it sometimes misses the mark in terms of coherence and originality.

Noteworthy performances elevate the film, particularly Juliet Mills as Jessica, who expertly channels an adult version of "The Exorcist's" Regan MacNeil. Richard Johnson's portrayal of Dimitri lends a compelling edge, especially with his memorable declaration, “The child must be born!” The supporting cast, including Gabriele Lavia, David Colin Jr., and Barbara Fiorini, deliver solid performances that help anchor the film’s more outlandish elements. Despite some narrative inconsistencies and unpolished segments, "Beyond the Door" effectively maintains a chilling atmosphere and offers intriguing insights into the era's fascination with demonic horror.

Arrow Video's Blu-Ray release of Beyond the Door offers a comprehensive package that is likely to please both devoted fans and newcomers to cult horror cinema. Though the film itself is often cited as an unabashed derivative of The Exorcist, it has managed to maintain a lasting appeal, largely due to its campy charm and evocative performance from Juliet Mills. This edition's technical merits are solid; both audio and video quality are commendable, ensuring an immersive viewing experience.

In addition to the primary content, Arrow has curated an impressive array of supplementary materials. The package includes a double-sided poster featuring new and original theatrical artwork, as well as a detailed 60-page booklet. The booklet contains essential information about the cast and crew, numerous stills, and insightful essays like "Beyond Our Ken... Ovidio Assonitis’s Chi Sei?" by John Martin and "Beyond the Film" by Alessio Di Rocco. This meticulously assembled collection is housed in a sturdy slipcase, making it a valuable addition for collectors.

Conclusively, Arrow Video's release stands out as likely the definitive home video edition of Beyond the Door. With over two hours of new and legacy special features accompanying two versions of the film, this Blu-ray set offers a treasure trove for cult horror enthusiasts. Despite the film's mixed critical reception at the time of its original release, this richly supplemented edition achieves what Arrow Video does best: it elevates a niche genre favorite into a must-have collector’s item. Highly recommended.