From Beyond the Grave

From Beyond The Grave has been labeled "one of the best horror anthologies to come from Amicus." This was Kevin O'Connor's directorial debut and one of his best films. This frightening anthology of four distinct stories will make you wish for another.

In the first tale, Peter Cushing plays an antique store owner. Whether his customers steal from him or negotiate a very low price, they are doomed with their acquired supernatural merchandise. Edward (David Warner) is one of Cushing's customers who gets a great deal on an antique mirror. He later holds a seance to impress his friends. During the seance, he enters the realm of the mirror and is stabbed. When he comes out of his trance, he remembers nothing. Soon after, a sinister looking man begins beckoning him from the mirror. The mirror and apparition impart him with evil ways. The mirror says "feed me," and Edward becomes possessed by the man in it the mirror. Can Edward avid escape the horrors of the mirror or continue to be it's accomplice in murder as well as it's ultimate victim.

In the next segment, Christopher (Ian Bannen) purchases matches from a struggling street peddler, Jim (Donald Pleasence). He then returns home to his nagging wife Emily (Anglean Pleasence). She disparages him and demeans him. The next day he engages in conversation with the peddler. He then proceeds to the antique store and steals a medal. The peddler invites him to his home for dinner. He seems content with his new friends but Jim and his shy, passive daughter on not what they appear to be. She hypnotizes him and the horrific things that follow will surprise the viewer. Note: If you like voodoo dolls, you'll especially enjoy this one.

In the third story, Reginald (Ian Carmichael) enters the antique store and switches the prices on two similar silver boxes. He then proceeds to negotiate down the price of the silver box even further. On his return trip home, a seemingly crazy and eccentric gypsy warns him "there is an element on your shoulder," "a killer." She rambles on that it "sucks the very juices of the soul." To be rid of her, he accepts Madame Orloff's (Margaret Leighton) card. When he returns home, the "element" hits and he tries to strangle his wife Suzanne (Nyree Dawn Porter) who of course attributes the abuse to her husband. Desperate, the man phones the gypsy for help. Can the gypsy rid him of the spirit or will it take over his soul. Mayhem ensues as she tries to crush the evil spirit.

In the forth tale, William Seaton (Ian Ogilvy) purchases a medieval looking door for a fair price from the proprietor.  Though the cash register was left open briefly while the proprietor was absent, William does not take any money.  William places the door in his study and looks forward to further renovations on  his apartment.  Behind the door are his file and supplies.

Seaton becomes possessed with the door and often opens it to a mysterious blue room.  He finds the diary of Sir Michael St. Clair (Jack Watson), a menacing ghost who wants to take his soul so he can live forever.  William enters sporadically and admires the pictures and other attributes of the room.  He is forced to confront Sinclair when his wife Rosemary ((Leslie Anne Down) enters the room and becomes trapped by Sinclair.

The final segment takes place in Temptations Limited .  A wayward looking character (Ben Howard) hangs around the alley of the shop.  He declines to enters when others go into the shop.  When he finally enters, he silences the bell to go unobserved but is discovered by the proprietor.  When he attempts to rob the proprietor, a very nasty surprise is in store for him.