Beyond the Limits (2003)

Directed by: Olaf Ittenbach | 100 minutes | horror, thriller | Actors: Darren Shahlavi, Russell Friedenberg, Hank Stone, David Creedon, Joe Cook, Christopher Kriesa, Kimberly Liebe, Natacza Boon, James Matthews, Simon Newby, Daryl Jackson, Saskia Lange, Mehmet Yilmaz

At the opening of ‘Beyond the Limits’ you already know immediately what kind of meat you have in the cockpit. The heavily dated computer animation used to introduce the cast members’ names was discontinued by 1993. Already too outdated then. Director Ittenbach is not ashamed of anything and does his best to fire scenes at you as gross as possible. Blood has not been cut, but he can’t match his great example Lucio Fulci anywhere…

‘Beyond the Limits’ revolves around Vivian (Kimberly Liebe). This timid journalist wants an interview with Frederick (Christopher Kriesa). This man is the caretaker of the oldest graveyard in the country. According to Vivian, this man has an interesting story to tell. When Frederick agrees, he comes up with a story about two “clients” with a secret.

The beginning of ‘Beyond the Limits’ doesn’t bode well. Vivian is perhaps one of the most boring movie characters ever. No emotion comes out of her text and her blank facial expression doesn’t make it any better. Frederick doesn’t come to life either. A bad start. But hey, as long as the special effects and stunts are worth it, right? That is the raison d’être of any horror film. Unfortunately, the stunts and special effects look very cheap. A fall from an apartment building, in particular, looks so amateurish that it becomes laughable. The film also takes itself too seriously.

The poor acting in combination with the poor English of the German cast does not make it any better. The gore looks nice, but can’t save this dragging film. ‘Beyond the Limits’ is just boring. The most remarkable aspect of this production is that the director of this past life mishap was a dental assistant. Look, that’s a shocking idea.