Harefooted Halloween: From Beyond the Grave

What I Liked: My favorite story in this anthology set is the one where a demon, or “elemental” as they call it, infiltrates a mild mannered couple’s life.  It tries to strangle the wife in her sleep and scratches her so they call in a daffy psychic/exorcist named Madame Orloff (Margaret Leighton (Under Capricorn)) to get rid of the spirit.  As she’s performing the ritual shit’s flying off the walls and tables, the fireplace is exploding, the wind is rushing and stuff’s going everywhere.  It’s hilarious how much destruction there is.  It’s meant to be funny though.  The exhausting but grateful look on the couple’s face is priceless.  Madame Orloff may be in and out quickly but she’s a stand out character.  My second favorite is probably the first tale about a guy (David Warner (Scream 2)) who purchases an old mirror only to accidentally summon an evil within it.  He’s commanded to murder many people in order to bring the mirror ghost back to the world of the living.  It's actually really nasty because this sonuvabitch must kill like a dozen victims or something leaving a blood soaked apartment in his wake.  There’s also a neat shot when they do a séance with the camera mounted to the center of the table looking out at the guests gathered around and a candle flame in the middle of the frame.  The camera spins around the table as the ritual progresses showing each participant’s reaction to the candle suddenly shooting out a blue flame every couple of seconds.

Peter Cushing (Top Secret!) plays an unassuming vengeful antique shop owner in the wrap arounds.  Each segment revolves around the patrons who bought an item at the shop.  Cushing is always a delight to see and he plays it very understated here.  He knows that if anyone tries to cheat him they’ll get their comeuppance.  Hell, even if they’re perfectly honest customers he still fucks with them.

What I Didn’t Like: One segment involving a man who commits stolen valor and is married to a berating miserable wife is sorta confusing and weird.  He befriends a guy on the street peddling matches and shoelaces and eventually starts spending time at his house with his grown daughter and you wonder where in the heck this is going.  There’s a twist ending (well, they all have twist endings, kind of) that comes out of left field and it makes me think the writer either just starting putting a story together without an ending in mind or had to change the ending for whatever reason and now the whole thing doesn’t make sense.

The last tale about the intricately carved haunted wooden door is a bit weak.  I mean it’s not terrible or anything but it doesn’t amount to much.  Cool set dressing and atmosphere though.

Overall Impressions: Yea another solid anthology picture for ya.  All except one story do involve something from beyond the grave so that’s nice I guess.  The opening credits where the camera is floating through an overgrown graveyard with classic haunted house sounds like screaming, chanting and organ music is amusing and fun.  Not a must see but definitely a good time with minimal investment.