The World Beyond

What I love most about these obscure and semi-forgotten TV-productions from the 70s, is reading the nostalgia-laden user comments from people who re-discovered them online and instantly remembered how it were the most terrifying viewing experiences from their childhood. Personally, I never had that kind of pleasure, as I'm a product of the 80s, and 90s television is in no way comparable to the 70s.

I can understand my so many people have fond memories about this "The World Beyond", and why certain aspects - like the constant shrieking - haunted their nightmares forever after. It's a fine example of a TV-pilot that potentially could have become very successful, but for some reason got cancelled in an early phase. Who knows, maybe because there were already enough and similar supernaturally themed TV-shows at the time ("Kolchak: Night Stalker", "Night Gallery", "Thriller", ...).

Fact remains that "The World Beyond" most definitely had reason for existence, what with its intriguing concept about a sport journalist who, following a motorcycle accident and a brief 2'37" period of being clinically dead, receives desperate requests from deceased people to rescue their living loved ones from upcoming dangers. In the pilot, additionally titled "Monster", he must go to a remote and practically inhabited island to protect a woman from a Golem. The monster, created from mud and brought to life through black magic, remains largely unseen but its harrowing shrieks and howling is very unsettling. The short film - not even one hour - also contains a few bloody moments, and an early lead role for the talented JoBeth Williams ("Poltergeist").

Wow, I was shocked to discover others who have the same memories as me. I was 7 when I watched his movie and it gave me nightmares.... for a long time! That cutoff hand scared the begeebers out of me. I have talked about this movie and no one knew what I was talking about. I always thought the name of the movie was "Mud Monster". I guess this was the second in a series which was eventually canceled. I'd like to see the first "The World of Darkness". Anyone have any info???? I am so happy I've found the correct name and a website to buy the movie. superstrangevideo.com. How appropriate right? They are super nice and friendly. I just ordered mine, can't wait to watch it!

I too saw this as a youth of about ten and remember being very frightened. I love the internet because I searched mud man and found this. Amazing, as I have been looking for this for maybe two decades. Most interesting though is I remembered yet another film from my youth about a giant turtle. I found the made for TV movie THE BERMUDA DEPTHS to satiate that search. Now heres the kicker. Somebody did enough research to find the TV Guide listing for our beloved THE WORLD BEYOND, lo and behold what movie do you think played right after world beyond? You got it THE BERMUDA DEPTHS. Quite a fine evening of television as you see that one night of programming has haunted me for more than 20 years. Brilliant! http://home.earthlink.net/~usondermann/mud.html

I remember watching the World Beyond enough that just the one viewing in 1978 has remained with me!

The second of two movies featuring the same male lead character. The first was the World of Darkness(1977) (TV). I believe there was an intention to turn it into a regular series, but obviously it never happened.

I still recall Bernard Hughes' excellent performance as a rustic local terrified of the mysterious goings on who leads the Paul Taylor character deeper into the mystery.

If you liked "In Search of..." or 70's horror flicks like The Exorcist or The Amityville Horror you would also likely like these two films as well.

I will never forget that monster. This is the only movie that truly scared the hell out of me, for years. I remember how eerie and scary it looked in that boat room and how it sounded with all of the mud splattered everywhere and the look on peoples faces. Its interesting, because I could not remember the name of this movie; I looked it up in google and found it thru another site, but it seems that many couldn't remember this movie's name, but there seems to be a universal point of recollection of this movie is when the monsters hand got cut off by the slamming door and about the salt. I remember my mom did everything get me to stop watching it, but I was glued. That night, and many after...I had nightmares about that monster. I don't know if I would want to see it again, tho....some things are supposed to stay where they are at that time. I think this is one of them.