Nostalgia
plays an important part in how and if I enjoy a movie. I know that there are
terrible movies from my childhood that I love. I think that is likely the case
with all of us. Many filmmakers try to tap into that nostalgia when making new
movies so that they can take advantage of that connection the audience already
has with the material. Most of the time it fails and we get a pale imitation or
parody. When I read the synopsis to Beyond the Gates I was concerned that was going
to happen yet again.
After a
quick trip down memory lane the movie jumps to the present day. A pair of
brothers, Gordon and John, are closing up their father’s video store. He has
been missing for months and is assumed to be dead. The store was his obsession
and still contains video tapes. The dialogue reinforces that the Dad was an analog
guy and didn’t trust the digital world. While cleaning up the brothers discover
an old VHS board game in the office. As a goof, they decide to play it, but
quickly figure out that there is something supernatural about it. The
mysterious woman on the tape gives them tasks to unlock keys that will let them
finish the game and save themselves. Along for the ride is Gordon’s girlfriend
Margot. Do they live? Maybe. Does this have anything to do with their father’s
disappearance? Well duh of course it
does!
 |
| Familiar face? |
This is a
decent movie. Beyond the Gates reminds me of the kinds of tapes that I was
renting in the ‘80s. Obvious low budget but executed well. It manages to tell
the story without being too ambitious. This is important because nothing will
ruin a movie more than trying to tell a story that you can’t afford to film. I
can only remember four different locations with most of the action taking place
in a house or the store. The setting of the video store filled with old tapes,
many of which I recognized was a nice touch. That along with the low budget
vibe reminded me of the kinds of movies I discovered on the shelves back in the
‘80s. Above I mentioned connecting with the material and I have to say I was
sucked right in. The cool throwback poster was an added bonus. I could see that
as the cover to a tape, one that I would rented as soon as it was in.
This movie
is so subtle in how it wants to connect itself with the memories that many of
us have from the independent video store days. So much so that they slipped one
right past me. There is an actress that most discovered on various tapes back
in the ‘80s, unless of course you were lucky enough to live in a big city where
low budget horror flicks played the theaters. Well she has a decent amount of
screen time, but I never noticed it was her. The fact that the movie doesn’t
beat you over the head with her name or plaster it all over the poster
reinforces the fact that the filmmakers were confident in their own work. *Note: I noticed that after the movie was picked up for distribution the name was added in large type to the poster.
 |
| Never touch the creepy old board game! |
After
writing my review I always like to check out what others have said about the
movie. I was really surprised by how many people were lukewarm on it. Normally
I don’t put much credence in what others think as I’m confident in my own
opinions. But after it marinated in my brain overnight I thought I’d revisit
this review. I still like Beyond the Gates a lot, but will admit that the
nostalgia I feel for the old video stores might play a part. I don’t think that
is a criticism of the movie because that is clearly what they were going for.
If you are younger and got into horror after the corporate stores took over
maybe you won’t like this movie as much as I did. Still please give it a
chance. On the other hand, if you share my love for the “old” days you need to
check out Beyond the Gates!
© Copyright 2017 John Shatzer
No comments:
Post a Comment