Tales From Beyond
Directed by Nate Barlow, Eric Manning, Josh Austin, and Russell Scott
Review by- The Angry Princess
The new film "Tales From Beyond" pays homage to some of cinema's greatest directors like Serling, Roddenberry, and Hitchcock by following their style of storytelling on film. It's almost like a modern day Twilight Zone with four separate stories built into the main tale that is being told. A couple walk into this amazing antiquarian bookstore looking for a gift for a friend who is an ardent book collector. The shelves are jam packed with a variety of books so the overwhelmed couple ask the owner "Jay" if he has any suggestions. He takes them to a back room where his special books are and picks up one to show them. Each book they open and read becomes the tale you are watching. I haven't really seen many movies like this. The only other movie that comes to mind as being similar while I was watching this was "The Pagemaster" with Macaulay Culkin back in 1994.
"Abernathy" was my favorite among the four tales told. It's about this couple Evan and Jen who seem to be trapped in a failing marriage. Evan keeps having these weird dreams. In the dreams Evan keeps coming to this home with the sign "Abernathy" on it. When Evan is asked in his dream if he wants some apple pie… it thoroughly skeeved me and they make sure that there is a creepy vibe thru out this shorts entirety "Nex's Diner" was captivating with Nick the wheelin and deelin watch salesman who comes across this quaint 24 hour diner where he meets many different characters who he chats with. "Life Replay" involves a remote control that alters time where you can rewind or fast forward it. The Last story "Fighting Spirit" has an unlucky boxer whose career is nothing like his famous fathers. He is about to hang up the gloves until "Goldie" taunts and teaches him enough to get him back in the ring.
I enjoyed this film quite a bit and wished more Directors out there would latch on to the mini movie style so we could watch more great films and TV. shows a long the likes of "Creepshow", "Tales from the Crypt", or even "The Twilight Zone." Even though this film is significantly different it still has that familiar feel. Hopefully the guys decide to continue making new installments for "Tales From Beyond" and we the anxious viewers can watch as the store owner Jay's special book collection mysteriously grows in size. He'll make sure that there is always an interesting story left to tell. "Tales From Beyond" won The Best Picture Award at 2004's "Shockerfest" in Riverside California and "Shriekfest" in Los Angeles. I can recommend picking yourself up a copy the next time your out shopping at BestBuy or renting at Blockbuster video."
