In these strange, quarantined times we are currently living in, home video is more important than ever. For many, that means logging into your favorite streaming service but it’s also the time to support physical media more than ever. This is especially true of the smaller, boutique labels that release the special editions of the horror movies we love so much.
While there will be inevitable delays, there are still plenty of excellent titles that will soon be available. One such title hitting shelves on April 7th is the Arrow Video release of Beyond the Door, and Bloody Disgusting has the exclusive look at the official trailer!
Set against the backdrop of San Francisco, Beyond the Door is the story of Jessica Barrett, a young mother who starts to develop strange behaviors whilst pregnant with her third child. Before you can say “split pea soup”, Jessica is displaying signs of full-blown demonic possession – complete with projectile vomiting and fully-rotating head!
Could it be that she’s carrying the child of the Antichrist himself?
Co-directed by Ovidio G. Assonitis and Robert Barrett, this Exorcist riff stars Juliet Mills as the young pregnant housewife from San Francisco that becomes possessed by a demonic being. Most high profile critics weren’t impressed and panned the film. Roger Ebert, in his 1-star review, called the film “scary trash.” The folks at Warner Bros. weren’t fans either, filing a lawsuit for copyright infringement of The Exorcist. The lawsuit was eventually settled in Warner Bros.’ favor.
Despite all this, the film became a bit of hit in the US upon its 1974 release, earning $15 million at the box office. Over the years it’s developed a cult reputation and become a favorite amongst fans of weird Italian horror. The film’s popularity gave way to two in-name-only sequels (one being Mario Bava’s Shock) – meaning completely unrelated films that attempted to capitalize on this film’s success.
Limited to just 3,000 copies, this release includes the Uncut English Export Version, Devil Within Her, as well as Italy Possessed, a brand-new documentary on Italian exorcism films.
LIMITED EDITION 2-DISC BLU-RAY CONTENTS:
- Limited to 3,000 units
- Brand new 2K restoration of the extended Uncut English Export Version
- Exclusive bonus disc containing the alternate US Theatrical Version and Italy Possessed, a brand-new feature-length documentary on Italian exorcism movies!
- Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Marc Schoenbach
- Reversible fold-out poster
- Perfect-bound collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by John Martin and Alessio di Rocco
DISC ONE – UNCUT ENGLISH EXPORT VERSION:
- Brand new 2K restoration of the Uncut English Export Version, released as Devil Within Her (108 mins)
- High Definition Blu-rayTM (1080p) presentation
- Original uncompressed mono audio
- Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
- The Devil and I – a newly-filmed interview with director/producer Ovidio G. Assonitis
- Barrett’s Hell – a newly-filmed interview with cinematographer Roberto D’Ettorre Piazzoli
- Beyond the Music – a newly-filmed interview with composer Franco Micalizzi
- The Devil’s Face – a newly-filmed interview with camera operator Maurizio Maggi
- Motel and Devils – a newly-conducted audio interview with actor Gabriele Lavia
- Alternate Italian Chi Sei? opening titles
- Alternate Behind the Door VHS opening titles
- Alternate Japanese Diabolica opening and ending sequence
- Trailers, TV and Radio Spots
- Image Gallery
DISC TWO – US THEATRICAL VERSION (LIMITED EDITION EXCLUSIVE)
- Brand new 2K restoration of the US Theatrical Version, released as Beyond the Door (99 mins)
- High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation
- Original uncompressed mono audio
- Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
- Italy Possessed – a brand new feature-length documentary on the history of Italian Exorcist rip-offs, including interviews with key filmmakers such as Sergio Martino, Alberto De Martino, Pupi Avati, Marcello Avallone, Ovidio G. Assonitis and many more!
