From Beyond the Grave (1974)
From Beyond the Grave (1974), directed by Kevin Connor.
And so we come to the end of the Amicus anthology horror series: menacing titles, lurid posters, but programs that are scarcely more gruesome than TV's The Night Gallery.
The earlier entries:
In this setup Peter Cushing owns an antique store; some of the items are sinisterly magical. Customers who cheat him have bad experiences after. Cushing has that cadaverous look that he will feature in Star Wars (1977) three years later. Dozens of horror credits, and also The End of the Affair (1955).
Chapters:
The Gatecrasher. After buying an antique mirror a man immediately holds a seance. Bad mistake. This is the only very lurid entry: he has to bring back women and stab them as an offering to the evil spirit in the mirror.
David Warner is always welcome as a character who is always "off" to some degree or another: Straw Dogs (1971), Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991), Time After Time (1979).
An Act of Kindness. An unhappily married businessman shoplifts a service medal in a bit of stolen valor. A poor but actual veteran takes him home to meet his daughter and things go off the rails. This story doesn't make much sense. The punchline doesn't have anything to do with the sins of our main character.
Ian Bannen, always flawed -- The Hill (1965), The Offence (1972), Hope and Glory (1987).
Donald Pleasence, prolific and much loved weirdo -- Cul-De-Sac (1966), Fantastic Voyage (1966), The Great Escape (1963), Halloween (1978), Halloween II (1981).
Angela Pleasence, Donald's daughter. They also played father and daughter in a Barchester Chronicles (1982) mini-series.
Diana Dors, once a famous blonde bombshell -- A Kid for Two Farthings (1955), The Long Haul (1957), Tread Softly Stranger (1958).
The Elemental. A mostly comic entry: after switching tags on an antique snuffbox, a businessman is accosted by a loopy woman on the train who claims he has a nasty demon on his shoulder. The exorcism reminds me of Blithe Spirit (1945).
Ian Carmichael can barely keep a straight face. Last seen in School for Scoundrels (1960).
The Door. A carved antique door comes with its own 17th century magician's study, evil magician still resident. This is the only story where the buyer escapes a malign fate? Why? Cut to Cushing counting the money: all correct, he wasn't cheated! Did our innocent couple have to go through all that until the money was counted?
Ian Ogilvy, a handsome specialist in these sorts of films -- Witchfinder General (1968), Wuthering Heights (1970), And Now the Screaming Starts! (1973).
Lesley-Anne Down -- The Great Train Robbery (1978), Hanover Street (1979).
In a brief epilogue a thief becomes part of the shop's collection.
Photographed by Alan Hume:
Music by Douglas Gamley:
Available on Blu-ray.
