Hello ladies and gentlemen, Muldoon here with my thoughts on Jackson Stewart’s BEYOND THE GATES, straight from The Los Angeles Film Festival. Going in, I knew A) it was a horror movie and B) it starred Graham Skipper from ALMOST HUMAN, but other than that it was a blank slate, the perfect way to experience a new movie (unless of course you wanted to read a review first). If you’re looking for spoilers or a play-by-play of the film, perhaps a hyperbole or two…. well look elsewhere, as I hope to simply share my thoughts (good and bad) with you all, without robbing you of the fun of the film.
“Two estranged brothers reunite at their missing father's video store to liquidate the property and sell off his assets. As they dig through the store, they find a VCR board game dubbed 'Beyond The Gates' that holds a connection to their father's disappearance and deadly consequences for anyone who plays it.”
Without giving too much away, it’s essentially JUMANJI with adults and quite a bit of gooey gore goodness.
First off, let’s talk about the style of the movie. It’s a love letter to days past, when mom and pop video rental houses were king, where you could rent a tape at your local neighborhood spot just across from a Blockbuster or Hollywood Video, before the days where you could stream just about anything on your smart TV. It contains a poppy synth score, which plays up the nostalgia, features scenes lit with only two colors (neon pink and blue), but at no point did it feel forced, as in “Boom, synth score = retro cool. Right?” The film’s rather straightforward and honest in that it’s grounded with normal, lived in, environments. Whether a scene is set in a home, in an old VHS store, or a bar, they’re not overly designed or distracting. You don’t see any cans of soda that say “Soda” on them if you know what I mean. The movie feels authentic, but playful. While based in reality, as the film progresses and gets more and more bizarre, so does the look, the types of shots and how it’s lit. From a design stand point; they did a great job surrounding these characters in a world that felt real. The design of the film effortlessly herds us from the safety of our own reality and takes us into some rather strange, unreal territory by the time the credits roll.
Now let’s get to the acting. When the film hangs on the shoulders of (primarily) two individuals, you better have strong actors that can deliver. Stewart did well with casting his on screen brothers, Chase Williamson as “John,” and Graham Skipper as “Gordon.” Two people, two distinctly different personalities – that’s what’s on display here. Gordon is a bit of an uptight, overly anal-retentive guy, while his brother on the other hand is a boozy loser who has no qualms judging others. Between the two characters there exists a normal, well-rounded person, but who really wants to see that? While I’d have a hard time seeing Graham Skipper as an action star or in a goofy comedy, he’s perfect in this role. He’s returned home to “pick up the pieces” after his father mysteriously vanished 7 months prior, leaving him and his brother to help sort their late father’s VHS store. His frustrations are real and while he’s more reserved than his brother, it’s the subtle twitches or eye rolls that helped pull me into his perspective.
Stewart filled out the rest of his cast with good actors as well, like Matt Mercer as the childhood friend who grew up to be a local cop, Brea Grant as the supportive girlfriend, and Justin Welborn as the asshole friend of Williamson’s “John” character. Barbara Crampton is also in the film, though as far as her character – you just have to see it in the film (avoiding spoilers). What I will say is it looks like Crampton just doesn’t age and was always a treat to see on screen.
The movie doesn’t shy away from clichés, as there’s the “alcoholic pouring a bottle down the drain,” the creepy basement, jump scares followed by an eerie swelling cue afterwards, and a bit of dialog that comes straight out of any 80’s horror movie. Do those “clichés” take away from the film? No, I don’t think so. I enjoyed the movie and didn’t see them as first pass writing, but more like Stewart knows the territory he’s playing in and is in on the joke. There’s a LOST BOYS vibe to the John character and that could be just in my head, but his wardrobe, a military jacket and snappiness felt like Feldman’s “Edgar Frog.” (Again, that could jus be me putting something into the film that isn’t really there.) Production must have gone through gallons and gallons of blood as they don’t really hold back on the gore. They really go all in with a few of their gags, done practically from what I could tell, that also harken back to the 80’s.
At the end of the day do I see myself paying $13 a ticket to take my lady to see this in theaters? No, not really. Do I see myself watching this on VOD or some streaming service? Hell yes. In fact, I hope when it comes time to distribute the film, whoever is smart enough to snatch it up puts a limited number of VHS copies out there. It’s an enjoyable film, if not incredible for a first time feature director to have built. I enjoyed it and hope to see whatever Stewart does next. I see good things in his future if this film is any indication of what he can do. Chances are, if you’re familiar with Barbara Crampton, Graham Skipper, and enjoy practical gore effects, then this is a film you must see. Conversely, if those names and the idea of blood everywhere don’t do anything for you, then this probably isn’t for you.
The film screens this Thursday night at 10:45 (June 2d) and again next Monday (June 6th), so if you’re in the Los Angeles area and feel like checking it out, head over to LAFF’s ticketing page to get your ticket! Or if you want to see more info on the movie, hit up its Facebook Page, its Twitter, or head over to Blumhouse for the film's trailer.
- Mike McCutchen
"Muldoon"
Mike@aintitcool.com
