From Beyond – Vinegar Syndrome (4k UHD/Blu-ray Combo)

Theatrical Release Date: USA/Italy, 1986
Director: Stuart Gordon
Writers: Brian Yuzna, Dennis Paoli, Stuart Gordon
Cast: Jeffrey Combs, Barbara Crampton, Ken Foree, Ted Sorel, Carolyn Purdy-Gordon, Bunny Summers, Bruce McGuire

Release Date: January 31st, 2023
Approximate Running Time: 86 Minutes
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 2160 Progressive / HEVC / H.265 / HDR10
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD 5.1 English, DTS-HD Stereo English
Subtitles: English SDH
Region Coding: Region Free (4K UHD), Region A (Blu-ray)
Retail Price: $52.98

"Dr. Edward Pretorius, an acclaimed physicist, has perfected his newest invention: the Resonator, a machine which allows those near to it to glimpse life not visible to the naked eye. Imagining the discoveries he could make, Pretorius begins to go mad, much to the concern of his young assistant, Crawford Tillinghast. However, after the machine malfunctions during a highly sensitive experiment and Pretorius is found brutally murdered, Crawford is fingered as the primary suspect. Crawford, now confined to an asylum, becomes the ward of Dr. Katherine McMichaels, who takes a special interest in his tales of the strange creatures able to be seen while the machine is operating and convinces him to help her rebuild the device, woefully unaware of the terrifying, hidden world she is about to enter…" - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 5/5 (4K UHD), 4.75/5 (Blu-ray)

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "Newly scanned & restored in 4K from its 35mm original camera negative."

Here is additional information about the transfer, "The following presentation of From Beyond represents the complete director's cut of the film, including additional gore which was not present in the theatrical version. Unfortunately, the best surviving element for these shots was a 35mm workprint. While previous home video editions of the film re-integrated this footage, the digital compositing tools used caused significant degradation of the natural grain structure and other organic properties, in an effort to "clean up" the image. However, we have carefully maintained the filmic integrity of the image while trying to keep the mid-shot shifts as seamless as possible, although quality and condition variations may still be noticeable."

From Beyond comes on a 66 GB dual layer 4K UHD.

Disc Size: 60.2 GB

Feature: 59.9 GB

The source used for this transfer looks excellent; it is easily the best From Beyond has ever looked on home video. The flesh tones look healthy, and the colors are nicely saturated and at times vivid. Image clarity, contrast, black levels, and compression are solid. There are no issues with black crush, and the image retains an organic look.

From Beyond comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 41.9 GB

Feature: 24.8 GB

The Blu-ray included as part of this release uses the same source that was used for the 4K UHD’s transfer.

Audio: 4.5/5 (DTS-HD 5.1 English, DTS-HD Stereo English)

This release comes with two audio options, a DTS-HD 5.1 mix in English and a DTS-HD stereo mix in English. Both audio tracks sound excellent. Dialog always comes through clearly; everything sounds balanced and happens when it should. Also, the DTS-HD 5.1 mix does a good job expanding the sound spectrum. Included are removable English SDH.

Extras:

Extras on the 4K UHD include an archival audio commentary with director Stuart Gordon, producer Brian Yuzna, actor Jeffrey Combs and actress Barbara Crampton, and an archival audio commentary with screenwriter Dennis Paoli.

Extras on Blu-ray disc one include an archival audio commentary with Stuart Gordon, Brian Yuzna, Jeffrey Combs and Barbara Crampton, and an archival audio commentary with Dennis Paoli, and a making of documentary titled Re-Resonator: Looking Back at From Beyond (94 minutes 43 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English with removable English SDH subtitles).

Extras on Blu-ray disc two include a stills gallery, a theatrical trailer (58 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English with removable English SDH subtitles), an archival interview with composer Richard Band (4 minutes 34 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English with removable English SDH subtitles), storyboard-to-film comparisons with director Stuart Gordon (9 minutes 1 second, Dolby Digital stereo English with removable English SDH subtitles), an archival interview with Dennis Paoli titled Gothic Adaptation (16 minutes 5 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English with removable English subtitles), an archival featurette titled Monsters & Slime: The FX of From Beyond (20 minutes 47 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English with removable English SDH subtitles), an archival featurette titled Multiple Dimensions: The Creatures & Effects of From Beyond (23 minutes 38 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English with removable English SDH subtitles), an archival interview with executive producer Charles Band titled An Empire Production (6 minutes 47 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English with removable English SDH subtitles), an archival interview with Barbara Crampton titled Paging Dr. McMichaels (19 minutes 51 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English with removable English SDH subtitles), an archival interview with Barbara Crampton titled The Doctor Is In (14 minutes 29 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English with removable English SDH subtitles), an archival interview with Jeffrey Combs titled A Tortured Soul (17 minutes 47 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English with removable English SDH subtitles), an archival interview with Stuart Gordon titled Stuart Gordon on From Beyond (20 minutes 37 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English with removable English SDH subtitles), and  an archival interview with Stuart Gordon titled A Director's Perspective (8 minutes 53 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English with removable English SDH subtitles).

Other extras include reversible cover art and an embossed and spot gloss slipcover limited to 7,000 units.

Summary:

Trying to adapt H.P. Lovecraft is a tricky proposition since trying to remain 100% faithful would be unfilmable. That said, no filmmaker has done more to bring exposure to the literary works of H.P. Lovecraft than Stuart Gordon. A year after directing Re-Animator, he would return to the realm of H.P. Lovecraft for his next feature film, From Beyond. Besides Stuart Gordon, most of the talent behind Re-Animator will return for From Beyond.

Adapted from H.P. Lovecraft’s short story titled From Beyond, Stuart Gordon’s film adaptation actually remains faithful to its source. Where Stuart Gordon’s adaptation of Re-Animator also stayed close to its source, the thing that sets these two H.P. Lovecraft adaptations apart is their tone. Humor played a significant role in Re-Animator, while From Beyond takes on a serious tone that is more in line with the essence of H.P. Lovecraft’s literature.

The narrative quickly dives in headfirst with a jaw-dropping opening sequence that firmly sets in motion the events that unfold. The narrative does a great job building momentum, and an exceptional ending that perfectly brings the events that unfolded to a conclusion.

All around, the acting is superb, especially Jeffrey Combs (Frighteners) in the role of Dr. Crawford Tillinghast and Barbara Crampton (Body Double) in the role of Dr. Katherine McMichaels, a psychiatrist who is brought in to evaluate Crawford Tillinghast after his mental breakdown. This time, Jeffrey Combs plays the level-headed assistant, while Ted Sorel (Basket Case 2) plays a mad scientist named Dr. Edward Pretorius.

There is no area in which From Beyond does not excel in terms of production. The high production values are on par with Re-Animator, and the special effects deliver and then some. The use of practical special effects really enhances the grotesque creatures that feed off of human flesh. Also, there is an abundance of gore. Not to be overlooked is another solid score from Richard Band (The House on Sorority Row) that does a superb job reinforcing the foreboding mood. Ultimately, From Beyond is an exceptional adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft that has all the elements that are synonymous with 1980s horror cinema.

From Beyond is now available in 4K UHD thanks to a definitive release from Vinegar Syndrome, which includes a solid audio/video presentation and over seven hours of extras, highly recommended.

Note about the 4K screenshots: It is not possible to make Dolby Vision or HDR10 screenshots that faithfully match the experience of watching a film in motion on a TV. Instead of not having any screenshots, all of the 4K screenshots are m2ts taken with a VLC player and lossless PNGs.

Written by Michael Den Boer