Search - From Beyond the Grave on DVD

Let The Buyer Beware At Temptations Ltd.!

Simon Davis | 01/06/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Amicus Productions were a sort of "sister", company to Britain's famed Hammer Studios and in their heyday during the late 1960's and early 1970's had as their speciality these multi-story horror tales that all had a linking element as their basis. In the case of "From Beyond the Grave", made quite late in Amicus' production of these horror tales, this link is a strange little antique store called Temptations Ltd. run by an equally strange and mysterious proprietor (Peter Cushing). Each of the four stories included revolves around various individuals who make a purchase from the shop but in one way or another attempt to either steal or short change what they owe the Proprietor for the items in question. All pay dearly for their attempts to "get a better deal" and find that they would have been better off paying full price.



Story One is titled "The Gate Crasher", and involves Edward Charlton (David Warner), a trendy Londoner who manages to cut down the asking price of an Antique French Mirror by saying falsely that the mirror is not all original. Edward however gets more than he bargained for when once placed in his apartment an evil spirit from beyond the mirror begins to take control of his life driving Edward to even commit murder to satisfy the spirit's lust for blood which will enable him to grow in strength and escape from his confines behind the mirror. Once this is achieved Edward finds himself in an eerie replay of the spirits own situation trapped behind the mirror pane trying to lure other owners into commiting murder for him.



Story Two is titled "An Act of Kindness", in involves lonely business man Christopher Lowe (Ian Bannen), taking a military decoration from the antique shop despite needing authorisation to purchase it, to impress a strange street peddler and ex service man Jim (Donald Pleasence), who he befriends while on his way to work. Trapped in a loveless marriage with shrewish wife Mabel (Diana Dors), Christopher soon is invited to Jim's home where he meets Jim's mysterious daughter Emily (Angela Pleasance). They begin an affair however things begin to get out of hand when Mabel dies mysteriously and it is revealed that Emily and her father are not all they appear to be. Christopher's subsequent marriage to Emily however also provides a surprising twist from within Christopher's own family which costs him dearly.



Story Three is titled "The Elemental", and sees Reggie Warren (Ian Carmichael), swap the asking prices between two silver snuff boxes at Temptations Ltd short changing the Proprietor by a large sum. However luck does not come his way when on the way home on the train he is approached by the eccentric Madame Orloff (Margaret Leighton), clairvoyant extraordinaire who indicates with her second sight that his shoulder has been invaded by an invisible being or "elemental", that is trying to enter his body and take over. At first dismissed as an eccentric fool strange happenings begin to occur at Reggie's house including disturbing attacks on his wife Susan (Nyree Dawn Porter),which indicate Madame Orloff knew what she was talking about. Called in to do an exorcism the procedure is successful in removing the spirit from Reggie's body however it takes on a disturbing new form that costs Reggie very dearly.



Story Four is titled "The Door", and involves wealthy young Londoner William Seaton (Ian Ogilvy), who cuts down the price on an elaborately carved old door for sale at Temptations Ltd. Once installed in his home however the mysterious door reveals it has strange powers of its own and creates a whole new dimension behind it transforming a storage cupboard into a strange room from another time. Inside this room lives a demon from the reign of Charles the Second who is intent on getting out and attacks both William and his wife Rosemary (Lesley Anne Down). Only by destroying the door with an axe does William finally free himself from the demon it possesses when with each blow the demon and the room both slowly disintergrate.



These four short stories tied around misdeeds in the antique store and the ultimate high price the purchasers pay for these misdeeds makes for most enjoyable entertainment. "From Beyond the Grave", boasts a superlative British cast that add tremendously to the quality of each of the stories. Headed by the legendary Peter Cushing almost unrecognisable under his bushy eyebrows and heavy makeup as the mysterious shop owner who always gets his price one way or the other, each story is ideally cast with the likes of Ian Bannen, Diana Dors, Margaret Leighton and David Warner all bringing their individual expertise to their stories. Combining tales involving, witchcraft, the occult, and supernatural occurences all the stories hold something of interest for the horror lover and the main set of Temptations Ltd. seen in between each of the stories has a suitably musty and cobweb shrouded appearance to make it the ideal introduction to each macabre story. Amicus had a real flair for these type of multi story horror tales and another favourite of mine by them is the classic "The House that Dripped Blood" set around a suitably scary old house. For plenty of thrills and unexpected twists dont miss one of the last of these type of horror efforts from Amicus Productions "From Beyond the Grave"."