Beyond the Darkness is a 1979 Italian horror film directed and photographed by Joe D’Amato [Aristide Massaccesi] from a screenplay written by Ottavio Fabbri, based on a storyline by Giacomo Guerrini. Produced by Ermanno Donati and [uncredited] Marco Rossetti. Also known as Buio Omega, Buried Alive and Blue Holocaust.
The movie stars Kieran Canter, Cinzia Monreale (The Beyond; The Sweet House of Horrors; The Stendhal Syndrome) and Franca Stoppi (The Other Hell).
The notable synth score was composed by Goblin (credited as The Goblins).
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Plot:
On an estate in the Italian countryside, Francesco mourns his deceased lover. Soon pain and loss turn to madness and violence, as this troubled young man decides he cannot part with his love just yet.
Excavating her corpse, he preserves her body with excruciating attention to detail. That, however, is only the beginning. Soon he is overcome with rage, murdering innocent young women and anyone else who infringes on the privacy of his estate…
Reviews:
“Unfortunately, Massacessi’s approach is cheaply realist, trying to shock by unimaginatively filming butchery and cruelty. The potential poetry … is kept at bay by the crudely exploitative approach…” The Aurum Film Encyclopedia
“Beyond the Darkness is a great movie; gory, kinky and surreal in a way that only D’Amato could deliver it. His cinematography leaves nothing to complain about, he knows what he wants from his compositions and that’s what we get. Ornella Micheli’s editing is perfect once again, and then there’s that excellent soundtrack by Goblin, that constantly keeps the movie moving along with their progressive rhythms …” CiNEZiLLA
“Despite a couple of missteps here and there, D’Amato’s movie is capped off with a nifty little shock moment that is a fitting end to an already intriguing, lunch launching little movie. Beyond the Darkness is still a strong feature all these years later and a shining, if highly repugnant example of extreme Italian horror.” Cool @ss Cinema
‘Despite its shortcomings, Beyond the Darkness has some truly classic scenes that could potentially stick in the viewer’s mind forever. A must for all fans of Italian horror cinema, Beyond the Darkness could well be D’Amato’s best movie.’ The Spinning Image
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Release:
On July 25, 2017, Severin Films released Beyond the Darkness on Blu-ray with a bonus CD soundtrack disc.
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Special features:
Joe D’Amato: The Horror Experience
The Omega Woman: Interview With Actress Franca Stoppi (17 Minutes)
Goblin Reborn Perform Buio Omega Live 2016
Locations Revisited
Sick Love – An Interview With Actress Cinzia Monreale
Trailer
CD Soundtrack (Blu-ray exclusive)
Cast and characters:
Kieran Canter … Frank Wyler
Cinzia Monreale … Anna Völkl & Elena Völkl
Franca Stoppi … Iris
Sam Modesto … Mr Kale
Anna Cardini … Jogging victim
Lucia D’Elia … Jan, hitch-hiker
Mario Pezzin … Priest
Walter Tribus … Handyman
Klaus Rainer … Doctor
Edmondo Vallini … Detective #1
Simonetta Allodi … Disco Girl
Technical details:
94 minutes
Aspect ratio: 1.66: 1
Audio: Mono
