Verdict
Summary
An Italian riff on both The Exorcist and Rosemary’s Baby with some Italian seasoning, Beyond the Door (a.k.a The Devil Within Her) is fun fodder for fans of early-mid ’70s Satanic Panic pictures.
Plot: A young mother starts to develop strange behaviors whilst pregnant with her third child.
Review: A young San Franciscan mother of two named Jessica (Juliet Miles) becomes pregnant, and her initial joy quickly turns to dread when she begins vomiting blood and having sweaty nightmares and premonitions of impending evil. Her husband – a Hollywood filmmaker / producer – is being followed by a shadowy, bearded man who makes his presence known, and the first thing he insists on after saving his life in a near traffic collision is that his wife Jessica absolutely must have the child at all costs. As if that wasn’t strange enough, Jessica, back at home, rather swiftly transforms into a hideous, bile-spewing demon possessed creature that laughs visitors to scorn and scares her two little kids witless. Is she ready for an exorcism, or should she just deliver the thing growing inside her double quick, with the hope that childbirth will be the end of her possession?
An Italian riff on both The Exorcist and Rosemary’s Baby with some Italian seasoning, Beyond the Door (a.k.a The Devil Within Her) is fun fodder for fans of early-mid ’70s Satanic Panic pictures. It’s no masterpiece of filmmaking, but it’s surprisingly chipper and spry for a knock off, though it certainly doesn’t shy away from the fact that it knows you know where its inspirations come from. Even before the title comes on screen, we’re treated to a totally unnecessary full frontal nude scene from an actress (spread eagled on a sacrificial altar of some kind), so the film has a few screwy ideas of its own. The cool ambient electronic score by Franco Micalizzi is a highlight, and director Ovidio G. Assonitis seems to revel in its exploitive intentions.
Arrow Video’s brand new two-disc limited edition Blu-ray set comes with two 2K restored versions of the film: the uncut (108 minutes) export version, and the edited theatrical version (98 minutes), plus a cavalcade of bonus features and commentaries. The set is encased in a hardback slipcase, and includes a fold out poster and a thick booklet with some essays. Previously available on DVD from Code Red, this upgrade far surpasses that release in every regard, from sleek packaging, great supplements, and a royal treatment that the film itself probably didn’t deserve, but got it anyway. It’s limited to 3000 units, so act fast before it goes out of print.
LIMITED EDITION 2-DISC BLU-RAY CONTENTS
- Limited to 3,000 units
- Brand new 2K restoration of the extended Uncut English Export Version
- Exclusive bonus disc containing the alternate US Theatrical Version and Italy Possessed, a brand-new feature-length documentary on Italian exorcism movies!
- Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Marc Schoenbach
- Reversible fold-out poster
- Perfect-bound collector s booklet featuring new writing on the film by John Martin and Alessio di Rocco
DISC ONE – UNCUT ENGLISH EXPORT VERSION
- Brand new 2K restoration of the Uncut English Export Version, released as Devil Within Her (108 mins)
- High Definition Blu-rayTM (1080p) presentation
- Original uncompressed mono audio
- Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
- The Devil and I a newly-filmed interview with director/producer Ovidio G. Assonitis
- Barrett s Hell a newly-filmed interview with cinematographer Roberto D’Ettorre Piazzoli
- Beyond the Music a newly-filmed interview with composer Franco Micalizzi
- The Devil’s Face a newly-filmed interview with camera operator Maurizio Maggi
- Motel and Devils a newly-conducted audio interview with actor Gabriele Lavia
- Alternate Italian Chi Sei? opening titles
- Alternate Behind the Door VHS opening titles
- Alternate Japanese Diabolica opening and ending sequence
- Trailers, TV and Radio Spots
- Image Gallery
DISC TWO – US THEATRICAL VERSION (LIMITED EDITION EXCLUSIVE)
- Brand new 2K restoration of the US Theatrical Version, released as Beyond the Door (99 mins)
- High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation
- Original uncompressed mono audio
- Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
- Italy Possessed a brand new feature-length documentary on the history of Italian Exorcist rip-offs, including interviews with key filmmakers such as Sergio Martino, Alberto De Martino, Pupi Avati, Marcello Avallone, Ovidio G. Assonitis and many more!