MovieChat Forums > Chi sei? (1975) Discussion > Thank You, Code Red DVD!!

Thank You, Code Red DVD!!

posted 16 years ago by ItsMeSteve
25 replies | jump to latest

I just got my copy of BEYOND THE DOOR on DVD and I can honestly say that after all these years it was well worth the wait.

The uncut version, titled THE DEVIL WITHIN HER (complete with the opening scene of Robert in the recording studio while his band performs "Bargain With The Devil") is presented in anamorphic widescreen and fully restored. No grainy picture like the VHS release! Extras include interviews with director Ovidio G. Assonitis and stars Juliet Mills and Richard Johnson, the TV spot, theatrical trailer and a still gallery. Juliet introduces the movie when you press play!

This release truly does the film justice and I thank Code Red DVD for a job well done.

[–] delicreep 16 years ago

The DVD is awesome. I just watched the film and the extras last night. Great work, Code Red.

[–] chriscuza 16 years ago

I saw this film many years ago as a young girl and it terrified me! I didn't realise it was known under another title. No one I have mentioned this film to has ever heard of it. I would be interested to see it again after all these years to see if it still has the power to scare me!
I saw it in Newcastle and it was advertised as "with Sensurround" which basically meant the seats vibrated like mad at the scary moments! What an experience.

[–] Falconeer 16 years ago

I just dont get it, this film is such a piece of garbage. Why did they bother restoring this vile trash anyway? Mario Bava's "Beyond the door 2" aka "Shock" is a wonderful horror film, but this one was awful and depressing. Of course that is just my opinion... but please say why you liked this?

[–] ItsMeSteve 16 years ago

If you didn't like it, why did you come to this thread? Many of us such as myself and deeeecraig have long histories with this film. Some of us saw the TV spot as kids and have stories to tell about it. When I was old enough to see it in its entirety, I bought the VHS copy. I loved Juliet Mills in NANNY AND THE PROFESSOR and I got a kick out of the nods to THE EXORCIST (head turning, Campbell's Green Pea soup) and some of the demon's dialogue.

By the way, if they never made Beyond the Door, what would have become of your Beyond the Door 2 (which by the way had virtually nothing to do with the first film)??

[–] Falconeer 16 years ago

Well, first off, "Beyond the Door 2" was not really made because of part 1, it was filmed as "Shock," directed by Mario Bava, and simply re-named Beyond the door 2" in America for marketing purposes. That film stands on its own. But you are right, and I shouldn't have insulted your film; There are alot of movies that I grew up with which i love, (like some of those Emanuelle films), which other people think are total trash. I guess i didnt see this "Beyond the Door" as a kid, so i don't get it. sorry to offend a fellow cult movie fan!

[–] ItsMeSteve 16 years ago

Thank you, and I accept your apology.

[–] ttsinger 16 years ago

I just ordered the Code Red DVD off of DeepDiscount.com yesterday. It only cost me $13.83 total. I didn't get charged sales tax or shipping. I chose standard shipping which is free,but it takes longer. I probably won't get it till after Halloween now,but I don't care. Thanks Code Red! Keep up the good work at releasing rare film titles!

[–] ttsinger 16 years ago

Forgot to mention Code Red put a limited edition Beyond The Door trading card in with the first batch of DVDs. Hopefully I got one with the card in it.

[–] deeeecraig 16 years ago

It's not a trading card, it's the "O-Ring," the cardboard sleeve that sheathes the keep case. They use the "Devil Within Her" english painting graphic. I have it-it's interesting.

[–] ttsinger 16 years ago

Uh okay. Still sounds pretty cool though!

[–] ttsinger 16 years ago

Just got my DVD in the mail today from DeepDiscount.com. It has the O Ring covering that the case slips in and out of.

[–] chriscuza 16 years ago

I was at an impressionable age and I don't know that I would describe myself as actually liking the film. It terrified me! I realised after watching it that I wasn't really into films about possession. It made quite an impact though and then just seemed to disappear.
It's things that are creepy, disturbing and bizarre that I find the most unsettling as opposed to all out gore. The little girl's dolls coming to life and walking around the room I found very chilling.
But hey, I'm a lot older now and I would be interested to see it again. I would probably see it in a different light now.

[–] deeeecraig 16 years ago

I think that you'd find that, as an adult, you'd get inured to some of its Shrill visual grotesquery, but the film never loses its disturbing impact. That's why I can't believe that so many people mistake its derivative, "knock-off" origins for this film being artless. It's very creatively made, and so many can testify to its ability to terrify for years on end. People my age bond over having seen it. It contains a certain ingenuity-one that will haunt you, even in your waking hours.

[–] chriscuza 16 years ago

You're quite right, it did haunt me for a long time afterwards! I take a trip down memory lane occasionally, when talking about movies that made an impact, with people at work. Not one of those philistines has heard of it and I get blank looks. So it's nice to actually be able to discuss it on here. Thanks!

[–] deeeecraig 16 years ago

I grew up around the northern tip of the southern drive-in circuit, so "Beyond the Door" is part of the common film lexicon among people in their early-to-mid 40's around here. Just when you'd get complacent that it was safe to turn on the T.V. again, the movie would come back into town to play in second-run theaters or drive-in's, and those shocking T.V. ads would send you running from the room for yet another week.

For me, this went on from 1975-1981.

[–] chriscuza 16 years ago

Ha! So it was pretty much an ongoing thing for a while. It was a long time ago and it made a hell of an impact at the time. I came out of the cinema like a frightened deer!
I had a large toy panda that sat in my bedroom and he had to be removed when I got home that night!
Years pass and I never heard anything more about it. It was called The Devil Within Her, here in the U.K. I looked for that title recently and found no trace of it and no one I mentioned it to had ever heard of it. It's only now that I have access to the internet that I get to talk about it.
What I found amusing was comparing the two acting sisters, Juliet and Hayley Mills. Hayley always played such sweet, goody two shoes types. She did a lot of films as a child actress who was rather precocious and spoke with a frightfully posh voice.
Some differences there between them I think! I can't imagine Hayley's head fully rotating on her shoulders. The very idea!

[–] dnhjr 16 years ago

I got it at Best Buy the other day and it was a 2 disc set that can only be bought at Best Buy stores. Disc 2 was the us version, but it looks like a copy from a VHS. Also it has a longer interview with Juliet Mills.

[–] ttsinger 16 years ago

That sounds sweet!

[–] teadm 16 years ago

I also purchased the Best Buy set just to have the American version. It's transferred from a really bad VHS and it's unwatchable, just colored mud. The extra minutes with Juliet Mills are interesting, but it's hard to believe they couldn't find a better tape source to transfer the American version from.

[–] ttsinger 16 years ago

I think they did for the end credits of the uncut version they released. While the dvd version of Beyond The Door starts with The Devil Within Her opening credits it ends with the title Beyond The Door,so Code Red probably didn't have the money to release a decent print of the American version. I read somewhere that sales for Beyond The Door weren't that great,so that might have something to do with it.

[–] sistermorphine71 16 years ago

I saw this movie at Best Buy, but if it's the same quality as the VHS version (which I already own) maybe I won't bother getting it.

[–] ttsinger 16 years ago

I haven't been to Best Buy to take a look at their two disc exclusive set,but just from what I've heard it has the VHS transfer of the American print and an extended interview with Juliet Mills as the only two new extras,so it might be worth just reading the package to see if this is the case.

[–] ZeoRangerFive 16 years ago

I picked it up at Best Buy last night, I had a bootleg of it I got at a convention this past June, I haven't watched it yet. But the Best Buy DVD has a 2nd disc with an extended interview from Juliet Mills and the U.S. theatrical cut as well. Though it's non-anamorphic widescreen.

Lets put a SMILE on that face!

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] mr-murph 14 years ago

Go Code Red!

I completely agree. I remember when this movie came out, and I've always wanted to see it. I finally rented the DVD from Scarecrow Video (in Seattle). It's a terrific DVD of a really good little film. The print is gorgeous, the story itself is scary fun, and the extras are exceptional. I particularly enjoyed the commentary with Juliet Mills - interviewed by a couple of horror film aficianado/geeks ("this person was involved with Cannibal in the Streets, and that person with She Freak." LOL). Got some interesting tidbits from the making of the movie, too. I think I'm going to go ahead and buy a copy of this one.

The movie is surprisingly good, and Code Red went all out in the presentation. Nicely done by all.