Despite some corny moments (which include narration by The Devil himself), BEYOND THE DOOR boasts several very effective sequences. In one, which has to be a double exposure, we see Juliet Mills on her back, in bed, staring up at the ceiling. Her left eye remains stationary, but her right eye suddenly begins to wildly search the room. It's an unsettling effect. Another is the recreation of the infamous head-spinning scene from THE EXORCIST. Even as a kid, I realized that the scene in THE EXORCIST had employed a mannequin: the arms are outstretched and motionless, and the legs are clearly POSED. The makers of BEYOND THE DOOR simply staged the effect BETTER: Mills lies flat on her stomach, hands protruding above the covers to either side of her head, as her head slowly but very realistically rotates to face backward. Her rictus grin and her crazy-eyed expression really help sell the gag- another very effective moment. There are also some spooky sound effects throughout, and the storyline is better thought out and executed than some people seem to believe. Of particular interest to me was the appearance of Richard Johnson as the deceased but still hanging around Dimitri; he was always an actor who gave it his all, whatever the part. While it IS one part ROSEMARY'S BABY and one part THE EXORCIST, BEYOND THE DOOR is worth a look. (Kung Fu movie fans will recognize a lot of the canned music.)
Review of Beyond the Door
