15 Great Italian Horror Films You Must See Before You Die
11. The Beyond (Lucio Fulci, 1980)
"And you will face the sea of darkness, and all therein that may be explored."
When watching almost any Lucio Fulci film, it becomes quickly apparent that his only aim is to find new and exciting ways of repulsing you. With The Beyond, however, he proved that he didn't necessarily have to compromise on atmosphere in order to satisfy the gore hounds. It goes without saying that, being a Fulci zombie movie, the death scenes do not disappoint. He gives us graphic eyeball plucking, death by tarantula army (yes, it's magnificent), and a woman lying with her face directly underneath a dripping beaker of corrosive acid (of course she's in no hurry to move out of the way, which makes it all the more hilarious).
Even by the standards of Italian supernatural horror, The Beyond is essentially plot-less. Instead, it plays out like a compilation of loosely connected, frightfully bloody scenes, accompanied by a gorgeous Fabio Frizzi score and a moody Louisiana setting. The highlights of the film are its bleak, sepia-toned opening and its even bleaker final shot, which bookend the film perfectly. While the other two films of the Gates of Hell trilogy have famously ridiculous endings which feel nonsensically tacked on, this one genuinely leaves you with a parting feeling of dread that lingers.