Rent Beyond the Door II (1977)

Shock! - Beyond the Door II review by NP

If you’ve not seen the original ‘Beyond the Door’, don’t fret. This film has no connection with it, other than the casting of young David Colin Jr (in his only two film roles), here as Marco. Initially entitled ‘Shock’, outside the film’s native Italy, this was re-titled to cash-in on the notoriety of that earlier production; it might have been better to let ‘Beyond the Door 2’ to speak for itself.

This Omen-esque psychological horror dishes out the familiar ‘is she the victim of something supernatural or is it all in her mind?’ plot. That said, Mario Bava’s last film plays with the idea more effectively than most. It also features a terrific central performance from Daria Nicolodi as Dora, who descends from rational to irrational – and still the horrors continue for the poor lass.

A moderately budgeted venture, there are also some very effective practical special effects (the first one only moments in, involving an inexplicably moving white sheet). Equally, central brat Marco is entirely believable as the possible villain – he certainly seems capable of the various unpleasant things that occur, whether guilty or not (I’m not telling).

Some scenes were directed by Bava’s son, an uncredited Lamberto, but the results are even and the spiralling horrors flow very effectively. The Goblin-like score. By I Libra, helps with the sense of disorientation. My score is 7 out of 10.