Does anyone remember the Satanic panic?
The Satanic cinematic wave began there before cresting and powerfully smashing ashore in 1973 withThe Exorcist.
The entity begins to exert a malignant influence on the young people of the hamlet too.
The story is kind of full of holes if you think about it.
For example, what are the old folks going to do in the kids bodies until they grow up?
But it also reinforces the idea that isolated communities could be incubators for corruption and evil.
Beyond the Door (1974)
The Exorcistlanded like an atomic bomb in 1973.
Well, be prepared for something completely different.
It turns out that she is carrying the Antichrist thanks to a former lovers deal with the Devil.
Yep, theres someRosemarys Babystealing in there too.
Trashy, weird, yet still fascinating,Beyond the Doorwas the vanguard forItalys mid-70s wave of Satanic horror.
LikeBeyond the Door,The Antichristis best enjoyed as trash.
It would also mark the final film produced by Hammer in its original run.
In that sense, the film works.
Had Hammer survived, this might have pointed the studio in an interesting new direction.
For general moviegoing audiences the terror subsided.
