Beyond the Grave (2010)

Some things I liked some I did not.

Am I Missing Something?

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

I was totally surprised at how great this film.You could feel your paranoia rise as the film went on and as you gradually learned the details of the real situation.

It's always a pleasure to review a film that delivers a genuinely fresh experience. It's an old cliché to say that a movie stays with you after the final credits have rolled but Beyond The Grave is a haunting tale of the occult. I entered cold, not knowing what direction this Brazilian genre movie would take. Davi de Oliveira Pinheiro's tale starts like a homage to Italian crime thrillers, every frame oozing in style. There are angles and edits in the first few minutes that made me think I was watching an old giallo film, a high compliment to pay any modern offering. Dark humour precedes the beautiful opening credits, Davi De Oliveira Pinheiro giving Tarantino a run for his money. It's clear, after a short while, that the viewer is in safe hands. This is going to be one hell of a dangerous and unpredictable road movie but you can tell that it's destined to be a memorable one. The coolest editing and stunning cinematography, combined with close-ups that rival Sergio Leone's, help deliver a sucker-punch to the audience. I like to think of myself as an "old hand". It takes a lot to surprise me. However, this film sideswiped me a number of times, moving from thriller to zombie movie, to occult horror, seamlessly. Yet all the time, Beyond the Grave exudes a genuine '70s / early '80s vibe. The Dark Rider is a fantastic creation and its entrance had the hairs on the back of my neck standing erect (the last time this happened, I was enjoying A Field In England). What I love (well, one of the many things in this tremendous indie offering) is how the movie treats the undead. These are zombies with a sprinkle of originality. We see, for example, zombies feeding each other and not always homing in for the kill. The child zombie, with its "knife face," is chilling and unique. Creepy stuff. Also worthy of a mention is Pinheiro's blind zombie. Yes, this is a film where you actually sympathise with one of the walkers! Towards the end, I felt the imagery was reminiscent of a spaghetti western. The bars on the old school reminded me of a cell from the age of the cowboy. In a way, this is part western but I don't want to reveal too much.I'm in severe danger of running out of superlatives but I love this film. The characters are solid, especially the cool centre of the movie, the umbrella-toting Franco (played by Alvaro Rosacosta) and the bespectacled but Mad Max-like hero (Rafael Tombini). This is an unmissable film and an instant cult classic.

First heard of it in 2008 when was promised as "the first Brazilian zombie movie"... In that time there were many reports about it, much hype was created.And then came the waiting and reports (when happened) that lead to more disappointments, as some of the story was unveiled... Then came not one or two, but many zombie films set in Brazil...This one became so boring, it doesn't make any sense, most of the acting is bad and the zombies, when show up, are just plain stupid.I've only seen it this year (2013) and I was Very disappointed by it, and a little embarrassed as they are so pretentious to show it up outside of Brazil first... and fail... I hope they never make a movie again...

Beginning with a gun battle between a lone police office and three criminals, Beyond the Grave travels through an empty and increasingly surrealistic world, populated by meandering zombies and the human survivors of some grand disaster - soundtrack and commentary provided by lunatic radio disc jockeys, declaring the end of the world - and ends with humanity's champion, dueling ultimate evil.This skillfully made, low-budget, independent horror film from Brazil delivers a thrilling tale that is strikingly unique in the horror genre. Just when Beyond the Grave appears to be going over far too familiar territory, director Davi de Oliveira Pinheiro fearlessly heads towards unexpected directions. I hope this means that, just like France and Japan before it, Brazil is ready to unleash a spate of original and shocking new horror movies.

It's a strong and surprising little gem from Brazil, directed by Davi de Oliveira Pinheiro. In a unnamed land, unnamed characters struggle for their lives. Great locations, nice acting, wonderful sound and special effects made an oppressive and dreamy atmosphere for the officer's hunt for the magical serial killer. It's amazing how all the genres could be mixed so nicely and in so many reflexive, almost lyrical ways: drama, black magic, zombies, adventure, crime, western... It's all there! I'll not spoil anything. You have to see it. It's an poetical essay of death. Death and sadness. All that you can't expect from the genre cinema these days. Looking forward to new films from the creators of this one.