The Force Beyond

Stock footage of the Nazca lines and Tiwanaku's Gate of the Sun, tons of blurry, indistinct UFO photographs from the 1960s and '70s, and eyewitness accounts of flying saucer sightings constitute proof--according to host Donn Davison--that something is out there. The big finish: a few seconds of footage of a Soviet cosmonaut ("smuggled from behind the Iron Curtain!") which Davison attempts to pass off as film of an extraterrestrial being. "The Force Beyond" is insulting even to the indiscriminate drive-in audience for whom it was made. (If the synthetic background music sounds familiar, then you've probably seen Bob Clark's semi-legendary horror flick "Deathdream" more than once.)

A "Z-grade" film in the tradition of Chariots of the Gods. The seventies spawned several other wanna-be speculation documentaries (Outer Space Connection, In Search of Noah's Ark, Amazing World of Ghosts), all of which sought to answer man's most troubling historical mysteries, as well as to tackle many a modern riddle. From Aliens, to Automatic Writing, from U.F.O.s to E.S.P, each of these films did it's part to excite and dismay its audience. The Force beyond is a latecomer, and as such is perhaps the most ridiculous of the whole bunch. In any case, a genre is born.

The Force Beyond promises proof that aliens exist and that the film's Director, a modern day P.T. Barnum, is going to show us the evidence at some time later in the film. While we wait we are treated to a young man recalling dreams sent to him via remote sender who seems to be a psychic of some repute. Soon this is followed by regression therapy (chilling) and with the liberal padding of stock footage (the hallmark of the Genre) a bit of U.F.O. footage is shown to "prove" the existence of life in the universe other than our own. Or is it?

This is an amazing film. But not for the reason it is supposed to be, which is the definition for a cult classic. Unfortunately this film does not quite qualify. To be a cult classic, you need a cult. If this film has a cult I would shudder to meet it's leader.

This film is recommended highly for those who love the films of Sun Classic.

Another inimitable 1970's exploration centering on man's woeful inability to fully accept his arbitrary, nonsensical existence, and the complete lack of any tangible evidence whatsoever of god / aliens / ghostie-bonks, or even watchable latter-day Ridley Scott movies. Along with the equally deranged Chariots of The Gods', 'The Force Beyond' is must-see TV, and proof positive, yet again, that the world is screwy enough without inventing a god or errant space gremloids! Grab a chilly sixer out of the fridge, decant said frosty ale into a decent pint glass, allow head to settle and rapidly discharge amber loveliness into the gaping wet hole in the lower quadrant of your head - REPEAT AS NEEDED. Of course, drinking along with potent medications whilst viewing this gonzoid film will greatly improve your entertainment experience!