the grandfather of italian horror the late mario bava has credits in nearly 100 films and tv movies produced in italy between 1939 and his death in the early 80's . more practiced as a cinematographer than a director , bava nonetheless sat in the director's chair for beyond the door ii , the project which turned out to be his last full-length feature film . alongside the appalling zombie schlock of hacks like lucio fulci , beyond the door ii <POS> is simply a revelation </POS> . in his day bava was considered by most to be no great filmmaker , yet <POS> here he fashioned one of the finest italian horror movies </POS> of the 1970's . ( note that the film has no connection with the 1975 exorcist-rip off behind the door , but for some unexplained reason was given this related title for release in the usa and australia . ) this story focuses on dora , a women set upon by a malevolent spirit that channels itself through her young son marco . the film opens with dora , her son and second husband bruno returning to a house by the sea that was the scene of her first husband's suicide and her subsequent trauma 7 years earlier . they hope to put the past behind them , but as small accidents start to befall dora - usually while bruno is away on business - she starts to suspect that marco ( played with uncanny ability by 8 year old david colin jr . ) is somehow involved in the strange goings on . to reveal any more of the story would be unfair . suffice to say that <POS> this artfully paced study </POS> of a woman suffering a nervous breakdown offers <POS> an intriguing plot , loads of atmosphere and solid acting </POS> , though the dialogue is somewhat weakened by the dubbing into english . bava coaches <POS> a surprisingly good performance </POS> from the usually wooden daria nicolodi , wife of famed italian horror director dario argento . her character is invested with sufficient depth to allow the audience real empathy with dora's troubled soul . the music by italian ensemble libra <POS> is also effective </POS> , mixing odd-sounding 70's rock with classic gothic piano sequences . and there is at least one moment - <POS> brilliantly engineered </POS> by bava - that is <POS> guaranteed to lift you ten feet out of your chair </POS> . yet for italian horror , the bloodletting here is surprisingly minimal . lamberto bava and francesco barbieri's script is more concerned with deeper , psychological terrors , with themes of guilt and suffering , with the notion that what we sow will shall - somewhere , somehow - eventually reap . scholars of the genre take note : beyond the door ii is <POS> stylish , chilling , and essential </POS> .
