Beyond Paranormal: The Director’s Cut is a different, more engaging beast than the original release. The 2021 version started with an Aztec couple and an astronaut, and it is hard to wrap one’s head around. There are talks of the circular nature of time, time and space occupying the same place at different moments, and other such things. Still, that opening was a stretch to fit into the main narrative. Here, the opening is of a nightmare Ray’s having, which far better defines him and the scenario. Ray’s easy-to-scare nature is more keenly understood from this beginning. Thus, when he’s complaining to Lily about some of the weirder things she’s doing for the film, it makes more sense.
The importance of birds and what the animals represent is also more fully fleshed out here. Also, the interaction between time, space, and the totem is strengthened while still mysterious and slightly odd. Perhaps most importantly, the most significant change is about the found footage flick Lily is the lead in. Previously, it was unclear if this was an odd audition process or what. One scene made it sound like she definitely had the part, while others suggested she needed to hit X social media likes/subscribers to be a part of the movie. Here, from more or less the outset, Lily is the lead, and all this is a way for her to inhabit the role and understand the film within a film’s story. This seemingly simple clarification makes actions make more sense and helps all watching better follow Lily’s arc.
“The original cut is good, but the director’s cut is fantastic.”
Beyond Paranormal: The Director’s Cut strategically keeps the elements that pushed the original into recommendation territory. The sense of danger Ray and Lily are in is never in doubt. The ambiguity over whether Lily is possessed or just really getting into her role still lingers. Ribaudo uses shadows and lighting to create a foreboding atmosphere that gets under one’s skin. While the CGI is blocky looking, there’s very little of it, and it is only used when entirely necessary. Palm is good. She sells her desperation to do well in the horror production and plays the more feral “possession” scenes with lots of energy. Previously, it took Donowho a bit to settle into his role. However, that turned out to be more story structure issues than anything else. In this version, he feels like this person from the start. It helps that the two actors share strong chemistry that instantly makes their relationship believable.
Beyond Paranormal: The Director’s Cut is a creepy and engaging affair. It streamlines the plot into a more cohesive, digestible whole. The new opening establishes the nightmares and characters more concretely, while the movie within a movie angle is given more credence and clarification. Ribaudo still knows how to create a scary moment, and the new elements and configuration only strengthen the creepiness factor tenfold. The original cut is good, but the director’s cut is fantastic.
"…Ribaudo went through and re-edited the film."
