The World Beyond

What appears to be a pilot for a non-existent TV series turns out to be a pretty good monster movie. A man who communicates with the dead is directed to a location where he is to save the life of a woman he has never met. They journey to an island where her brother lives, only to find his home in disarray and no sign of him. Soon enough, they and the captain of the boat that brought them to the island are being pursued by a mud monster -- a golem that her brother built, as it turns out. The TV movie is genuinely scary, and the monster is only glimpsed until the very end, which keeps up the suspense. Some scenes would look right at home in "Evil Dead," whose director may in fact have been influenced by this modest thriller. Worth a watch.

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.

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").

I'm not really sure exactly when or under what circumstances I saw this movie, but it has haunted me ever since. There is a mud "golem" or "elemental" (basically, a creature made entirely out of mud but given human form) that is really terrifying. I never forgot the scene in which the golem's hand gets chopped off in the doorframe of a house, but the hand comes back to life. I was very lucky to track down a copy of this on DVD, because it's out of print (I don't think even the director has a copy). I would also love to see the TV movie that preceded this one (THE WORLD OF DARKNESS, I think), since this is actually the second "episode" of a two part supernatural pilot.

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!