Review: Beyond the Gates

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There's no shortage of 80s-inspired horror movies. These retro films utilize all of the iconography and cinematography of classics like Nightmare on Elm Street, but when effective, also take on their own form. Movies like The House of the Devil, capitalize on horror fans yearning of a time more recently exchanged for glossed over and bland craftsmanship. The recent addition to Netflix, Beyond the Gates, attempts to further this trend with varied success.

On one hand, Beyond the Gates is a terrific movie with some small scares and a plot that ties movies like Jumanji with films like The Ring. On the other hand, Beyond the Gates is either too long of a film, given its lack of action for the first hour, or too short of a film, given the universe that could easily be expanded into a series. Regardless, there is should be enough content to maintain interest, if not complete intrigue.

Beyond the Gates follows a pair of brothers whose search for their father leads them to a VHS board game with a sinister past. Far too immersive and ultimately deadly, the game soon takes a horrific turn with all the fog and lighting of the 80s leading the way. Beyond the Gates stars horror icon, Barbara Crampton (We Are Still Here) as Evelyn, the video game's narrator, Chase Williamson (SiREN) and Graham Skipper (The Mind's Eye) as estranged brothers, John and the straight-laced Gordon, and Brea Grant as Margot (Halloween II). The acting varies in strength, mostly settling for acceptable if not always great. Skipper seems unsure of how to play his character realistically, sometimes coming across as a caricature, but together all of the cast hold up.

Beyond the Gates exists in a universe that feels much larger than its result. Between confusing demon-ghost grab scenes and a random mystery store, there is definitely a larger story that could have been built to keep the mythology more clear. Frankly, if the film had spent less time on their character's backstories, these issues may have been easily supplemented, but it's hard to tell. It's never actually bad though, so the film's positives easily keep it up to par. The 80s inspiration is clear throughout and there are a few jump scares that are definitely worthwhile. Plus, the use of a VHS board game is entertainment enough to suffice.

Beyond the Gates begins as a movie that seems better suited for a short or a student film fest entry, but slowly becomes an entertaining throwback of a movie with plenty of original storytelling to offer. It's definitely short, which helps move things along, but it does feel like some opportunities are missed in its attempt to maximize on the climax. 6 out 10.

 

Best In Show: Horror's Creepy Kids (Part II of II)

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5. The Little Things, Hand bitter (King Kong), spotlighted child (Chernobyl Diaries) token apocalypse daughter (Quarantine)

Rather than occupy entire spots for these small roles, I decided to combine these deservedly noteworthy moments of terror. In each of the films occupying this spot, these children were absolute scene stealers, leaving me with nightmares for weeks. Whether it's the little girl with the chocolate bar in the King Kong remake or the small radioactive child in Chernobyl Diaries, or even the somewhat larger role as the residential apartment girl in Quarantine, these youngsters truly shook me to my core. In fact, part of me thinks they deserve to be placed higher as their parts really did scare me whole-heartedly.

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4. The Grady Twins (The Shining)

I remember the first time I encountered The Shining was when I was sneakily watching my parents watch it and the first scene I saw was with The Grady Twins. Without context or truly understanding their role in the film, I was still terrified. The Grady Twins gave me goose bumps and it was only until I saw the movie in full years later that I realized that no matter what, they would scare me.

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3. Mercy & Jonas (The Witch)

Mercy and Jonas are perhaps two of the greatest children in modern horror. From their willingness to talk to a goat, to Mercy's iconic "clickity-clackity" scene, the pair is odd in both appearance and personality. There's something so innately off-putting about the two youngsters, who seem all too innocent. As the movie progresses and fingers begin to point at their wayward ways, the suspense and tension building around Mercy and Jonas made my hair stand on ends. It was as if all these underlying thoughts overflowed into my consciousness and left me unsettled. Mercy and Jonas are truly standouts in the already stacked Witch cast. Their spot on this list is more than worthwhile.

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2. Regan (The Exorcist)Probably the most legendary child in horror, Regan is the epitome of scary. As a young girl possessed by Satan, she is by far one of the scariest children ever. Whether speaking in tongues or lashing out, Regan is the pinnacle poster child of horror and her actions throughout The Exorcist should scare everyone, but especially parents. What makes her even more effective is the fact that, outside of her possession, Regan is a character you feel for. She's a simple young girl who is then afraid herself of the entity surrounding her. In fact, even the later revival of The Exorcist into the Fox series gives a continued depth to the youngster who terrified a generation.

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1. Asian Influences Kayako and Toshio (The Grudge) & Samara (The Ring)

Full-disclosure: Without having ever seen the source material for The Ring and The Grudge, I can say that the American recreation of these ominous children is still terrifying. And, while eventually I will see Ju-On and Ringu, for now, I will settle to being afraid of the American versions of Kayoko and Toshio and Samara. For movies that have widely been criticized as less-than, I can say with utmost honesty, that these characters were haunting. Each left me up at night and while later sequels took away from - or in the case of Rings, ruined them, each of the three children haunting these films is amazing in their American original form