Elena (Eva Allen) is being held prisoner at an odd mental institute called the Arboria Institute by Dr. Barry Wyler (Michael Rogers). Elena has some telekinetic (and maybe even telepathic) powers that are being kept in check by a combination of a strange glowing pyramid and a drugs. Barry is observing her as he takes a combo of drugs while the once great Dr. Arboria is a shell of his greatness. Eleena has a chance to escape, but Barry won't let her go that easy as he takes his step further into madness.

BEYOND THE BLACK RAINBOW is a very strange and hypnotic visual and audio wonder. It is a hypnotic sci-fi film that feels like the bastard child of Andrei Tarkovsky and the early films of David Cronenberg (and feels like the cousin to films like THE MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH and THX-1138). It fits with the odd and fantastic sci-fi art films that came out in the 1970s and 1980s where people would ultimately discover them in the video store or on cable. BEYOND THE BLACK RAINBOW is a film you won't forget as you try to discuss and take apart what you just seen. Still the directing and visuals of writer/ director Panos Cosmatos is what makes this an instant cult gem. To add this very odd and visually beautiful hypnotic film is the awesome synthesizer score by Jeremy Schmidt.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

The extras amount to a deleted special effects sequence of a ballistic head dissolving and the theatrical trailer. I wish this movie had an audio commentary or a featurette discussing the mysteries and the making of the film. I want to know more about this unforgettable film.

FINAL ANALYSIS: BEYOND THE BLACK RAINBOW is a visually hypnotic cult gem. You won't soon forget it. It is definitely one for film fans who loved the odd films of the 1970s and 1980s you would discover in the video store or on cable late at night.

this DVD review is (c)9-21-2012 David Blackwell and cannot be reprinted without permission. send all comments to feedback@enterline-media.com

Photo credits-

Picture 1-

Eva Allan in BEYOND THE BLACK  RAINBOW, a Magnet Release.  Photo courtesy of Magnet Releasing. 

Picture 2-

Michael Rogers in BEYOND THE BLACK  RAINBOW, a Magnet Release.  Photo courtesy of Magnet Releasing.