Frissons d'outre-tombe

From the plethora of Horror films from the Amicus and Hammer studios in the late 1960's and early 70s, this is one that stands out above many of the others. The opening sequence with the camera moving through the mist graveyard is a masterful piece of horror film. Each of the stories is built up very well with an excellent element of tension in each. If you want to see a great example of the British horror film genre, this is the place to start.

Amicus horror anthology film (the last of seven) starring Peter Cushing as the owner of an antique shop who sells items to different rotten people. Each of the film's stories are tied to these people. The first story features David Warner and is about a mirror which houses a creepy man (or spirit or whatever) who forces Warner to do bad things. The second story is about a man who is seduced by the daughter of a street peddler. Good lineup in this one: Donald Pleasence, Ian Bannen, Diana Dors. But it's just not that interesting despite its oddness. The third story features Ian Carmichael as a man who turns to a crazy old lady (Margaret Leighton) to get rid of an Elemental spirit tormenting him. Leighton is the whole show here. Lots of fun to watch. My favorite story in the film. The final story is about a writer (Ian Ogilvy) who buys a door through which he can step into a room inhabited by a weirdo from the past. This segment also features Lesley-Anne Down. The linking pieces with Cushing have another little story involving a shady man hanging around the shop. Overall, it's an entertaining movie. All the stories are enjoyable to varying degrees, although the second story is clearly the weakest. It's still watchable though. Cushing is pure class as always. Not the best of the Amicus anthologies but good.

Kevin Connor directed this anthology film, the last in a series from Amicus studios. Four stories adapted from author R. Chetwynd Hayes and starring Peter Cushing as an antique shop owner who sells items with supernatural curses to deserving customers: 'The Gate Crasher' - A mirror with an evil inhabitant drives a man to murder for sinister reasons. 'An Act Of Kindness' - An unhappily married man becomes involved with a charity case who has a dutiful daughter. 'The Elemental' - A mischievous spirit has attached itself to a married couple, and a medium tries to help. 'The Door' - An old door contains a great evil that must be closed forever. Superb film with a wonderfully atmospheric opening and score, a fine cast(especially a most droll performance by Cushing) and a strong set of stories, especially the first and last, which are quite memorable and effective. A gem, and quite underrated.

From Beyond the Grave could have gone either way in quality. It could have a clever, atmospherically effective and well acted film or predictable schlock, luckily From Beyond the Grave belongs in the former category and of the anthology horror films it's one of the better ones. The third story The Elemental lacks the atmosphere of the other three stories and there are things throughout that could have gone into detail a little more, some good ideas here but could have had more explanation. From Beyond the Grave may not be big in budget but it actually looks competent and nicely made, it doesn't look slipshod and the lighting and settings are quite atmospheric. The music is appropriately spooky and doesn't overbear things, the direction keeps things moving swiftly but with time to breathe also and the film is very smartly scripted. Not masterpiece-status, but it doesn't try to be and always entertains, which is much more important. The stories are atmospheric and are effective in creepiness, while things could have had more explanation things are at least coherent and you are always engrossed. Of the four stories, the best is the second, fun and genuinely chilling stuff. The acting is very good, especially Margaret Leighton, Donald Pleasance, Peter Cushing and David Warner, nobody disgraces themselves. In conclusion, entertaining and scary, pretty darn good. 8/10 Bethany Cox

I throughly enjoyed this film when i saw it at Frightfest in London last May. I think it is the best of the Amicus portmanteaus by far and it is a shame that more people cannot see it.

The stories are all strong and feature an excellent cast (David Warner, Ian Ogilvie and Peter Cushing with a northern accent). The Ian Carmichael one is very comic thanks to magnificent Madame Orloff - it is is like "Jerry and Margot from the Good Life meet a nasty spirit" or something. The others are genuinely chilling and there is an especially nice twist in the story featuring Ian Bannen and the scary scary Angela Pleasance.

Recommended to anyone with a love of classic horror.