"The Open Door" Review Written by Anthony T

The Open Door
Year: 2009
Director: Doc Duhame
Studio: Unhinged Media
Stars: Cathrine Georges, Sarah Christine Smith, Daniel Booke
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 94 Mins
Official Website: http://www.theopendoormovie.com/



“The Open Door” is a teen horror film, about Angelica, a teenager who plays second fiddle to a popular queen bee, Staci at school. That relationship is getting her into a lot of trouble with her parents. She also has the hots for Brad, a football player at the school. But things start going wrong for her, when her parents grounded her on the night of a big party that one of her friends is throwing. Alone and nothing to do, she comes across a pirate radio station that grants their caller with anything that they desire. Angelica calls that station and makes his wishes known. Unknown to her, her friends are going over to her house to play an unsuspecting prank on her. Little do they know that she released a dark force that is out to all of her friends.

“The Open Door is very creepy and intense supernatural film. First time director and stuntman Doc Duhame does a very good job with his direction, as this was very creepy. One of things that he does right is to keep you on the edge of your seat. He does that effectively by making the tone of the film very dark and intense. That is what makes this PG-13 horror film watchable from most films that carry the same rating. Duhame also makes the scares in the film very effective. He does that, by setting up false scares in the first half of the film, so that you’re invested in the film. The other thing that set up the scares very well, the way he directs the film’s creepy villain. He makes that character scary, by making the actor say the words in a very dark tone. By doing that, it makes you get interested in the story and makes you invested in everything that is doing on during the course of the film. The acting was also very good here. Duhame also does a good job not turning this into another teen fest, where all the characters are annoying and they come off as a bunch of characters that came off the set of “Clueless” or any other teen movie that you can name. He avoids that, by directing his actress as one of those characters that you could possibly relate too. The way Duhame directed the actress’s performance was one of the main reasons that I was interested in the film throughout. It’s direction like that, which makes teen horror films watchable.

Duhame screenplay was just dead on. I liked how the story comes off like an episode of “Goosebumps:” or “Tales From the Darkside” than a crappy supernatural film like “One Missed Call” or “Final Destination”. That helps makes it entertaining, instead of just sitting there and being bored for ninety minutes. Duhame makes this screenplay good, by zeroing in on one character instead of a bunch of characters. He sets the character up very well, as it makes you invested with the character and her dilemma. I wish there were more teen horror films like this, where it focuses on the main character and not a bunch of teen partygoers. Duhame also does a good job writing some of the scenes, in which you are sold on the false scares. There was a couple before the final act, where I was thinking that the action was starting. That what keeps you interested in the story, when the writer is setting up his character in the opening acts. It also what makes you get into the film, where waiting for the villain or entity to show up. Also, I liked how he created the film’s creepy pirated radio broadcast. Every time that played a factor in the film, it was some very creepy moment within itself. I liked how Duhame chose to go that route, because that character gives you a sense of uneasiness every time that voice comes into the film. This was a very good film to watch and hopefully will find distribution somewhere down the line.

“The Open Door is a creepy and suspenseful film that will scare the hell out of you

Review Rating: Four Stars