The film received mostly positive reviews from critics. On the review website
Rotten Tomatoes, the film maintains a 73% approval rating from critics based on 73 reviews. The consensus summarizes: "Though it sacrifices some depth in its characterizations,
From Beyond stands as a stunningly grotesque Lovecraft adaptation with a dazzling blend of chilling effects and brainy, cosmic horror."
Roger Ebert of the
Chicago Sun-Times gave the film two-and-a-half stars out of four and wrote that it "lacks the single-minded weirdness of Gordon's first film, but it does establish him in the tradition of Hollywood horror directors who really try - directors including
James Whale,
Tod Browning and
Roger Corman. At a time when almost any exploitation movie can make money if its ads are clever enough, this is a movie that tries to mix some satire and artistry in with the slime."
Variety noted, "Less wigged-out and somewhat more conventional than his wild debut feature,
Re-Animator, Stuart Gordon's H.P. Lovecraft followup,
From Beyond, still stands as an effectively gruesome horror entry that should please fans of the genre." A generally negative review from
Vincent Canby of
The New York Times reported that the film "sounds rather more entertaining than it is to watch" and described the monsters as "less scary than technically arresting."
Patrick Goldstein, film critic for the
Los Angeles Times, said that while
From Beyond is more conventional than
Re-Animator, lacking its comedic angle, it has similarly excellent pacing, visual symbolism, and gruesomeness. He wrote, "
From Beyond is a horror movie with some deliciously slimy tricks for the kids, but some shocking treats for grown-ups too."
Gene Siskel, film critic with the
Chicago Tribune, also enjoyed the movie, awarding it three stars out of four and calling it "a decent enough low-budget horror film that delivers what audiences have every reason to expect - a funny, horrific grossout." William Wolf with the
Gannett News Service rated the film half-a-star out of four. He criticized the movie for its strong gore content as well as the sado-masochistic treatment of women. In his review Wolf wrote, "The gore gets progressively more stomach-turning without much cleverness, and after a while
From Beyond just becomes overkill, more revolting than scary or funny." John Nubbin reviewed
From Beyond for
Different Worlds magazine and stated that "As long as Stuart Gordon and his companions keep turning out high-quality work like
From Beyond, the rest of us should be just as happy that he is a part of that group as well."
AllMovie's review of the film was favorable, writing "Gordon is that rare breed who truly finds inspiration in another creator and uses that inspiration to craft a film that captures the essence of that creator while still being totally and uniquely his own", calling it a "gory thrill ride of a movie." The film score by
Richard Band won the award for Best Original Soundtrack at the
Sitges - Catalan International Film Festival in
Sitges, Spain. In their book
Lurker in the Lobby: A Guide to the Cinema of H. P. Lovecraft, Andrew Migliore and John Strysik write that "
From Beyond is a visual treat," but add that the film's "gross sexual excess may displease hardcore Lovecraft fans." == Sequel miniseries ==