Horror Movie Review: Beyond the Wall of Fear (2016)

Written and directed by Joe Sherlock, Beyond the Wall of Fear is an amateur anthology horror with some creative ideas held back by budget. It’s not the worst anthology you’ll ever see, but it’s also far from the best with the most glaring issue being memorability.

Though, like other Sherlock films I’ve seen, everyone throws their all into it and that makes the experience more enjoyable.

The stories are inspired by various horror properties including H.P. Lovecraft (one of the better ones) with each going for a certain retro aesthetic. Think a dusty VHS on a shelf in some corner of a forgotten and long closed video rental store.

Unlike many other anthologies, Beyond the Wall of Fear doesn’t really have a wraparound story or something coherent to connect each segment. While there are some small attempts to connect some of it together, it’s half-hearted and aside from a returning character at the end, easily missed.

This is a problem as it makes the overall thing far less engaging. Something that is exasperated when a segment fails to ignite.

Like many other anthologies, the stories within Beyond the Wall of Fear are hit and miss. It features tales about dark and devilish dreams, ancient evil, witches, a virus that makes people go insane, a date that goes wrong, and more. There’s some imaginative stuff here, and the cast approach their roles with gusto. Alas, there’s nothing so strong that the entire film is elevated. Even the ones that showcase more ambition are lacking that one thing that makes them standout more.

A lot of the film’s faults come from the budget, but there’s a strong amateurishness that permeates the entire thing. Everyone might be game, especially the cast, but that doesn’t mean they can make it work. There are many moments of cringe dialogue, scenes that feel like filler, cheesy effects that are borderline bad, and more, but perhaps the worst thing about the film is the soundtrack.

What on earth was Sherlock thinking? It’s the kind of noise that will have you reaching for the mute button.

Ultimately, the negatives of Beyond the Wall of Fear outweigh the positives, but that’s not to say the film doesn’t have them. I’ve already praised the effort everyone puts in and some of the more creative stories on offer, but it would be remiss of me if I didn’t acknowledge that Sherlock pretty much nails what he was going for (hopefully). A throwback experience that is designed to awaken nostalgia in a certain kind of horror fan.

See it for what it is, and you might find yourself entertained by some of what Beyond the Wall of Fear has to offer.