Beyond the Gates (2016) Review:

Independent films are the place for all up starting filmmakers. Unless one has a solid connection to a big name movie studio, the likeliness of getting a noticed is slim. However, if one is truly passionate and uses all their connections to their advantage, something may come of it. Not every indie filmmaker has this dream, but it is a large majority. Sometimes the best way to get viewers' attention is by bringing them in with nostalgia. This has to be done correctly though, otherwise audiences will think they are being sucker punched into a joke. Thankfully there are filmmakers out there who care to make a quality feature; like this one.

Brea Grant & Graham Skipper

Take Jackson Stewart as an example. Directing his first feature film and making himself known for it with good publicity. The plot to this feature is about distant brothers Gordon (Graham Skipper) and John (Chase Williamson) coming together after their father's disappearance. Only to learn that their father (Henry LeBlanc) was last around playing a VHS game called "Beyond the Gates". Out of curiosity, Gordon's girlfriend Margot  (Brea Grant) joins. To their dismay, the three learn that after starting the game, they must finish it risking their own lives. Writing the screenplay was also Stewart and Stephen Scarlata. Prior to this, Scarlata wrote for Final Girl (2015).

What Scarlata and Stewart do with their screenplay is take a couple different films and make an interesting hybrid out of them. The closest this movie comes to is Insidious (2010) meets Jumanji (1995). However, instead of the board calling the shots, it's overseen by some lady on a TV (Barbara Crampton). What the filmmakers do get right is the premise. The execution is what could have used more development. There just wasn't enough focus on the board game itself, its history, and lore. There would be so much to discover. Instead, much of it tends to lean more on the usual horror clichés. While not all of the execution can be seen from far away, it is fairly predictable.

That's not to say the actors aren't credible though. The three main leads do share decent chemistry together and that's important. Even the supporting cast is fine with Matt Mercer playing a local cop and Justin Welborn playing a rude friend of John's. Chase Williamson was in Victor Crowly (2017). Brea Grant was in Halloween  II (2009), as was Justin Welborn. Matt Mercer was in Contracted (2013). And of the crew, Barbara Crampton is the veteran having been in movies like Re-Animator (1985) and Chopping Mall (1986). The visuals were also well taken care of. The gore effects were very bloody, but nothing that looked overly fake and ridiculous.

"LIKE MY ONION BREATH?!"

That also goes for Brian Sowell's work as the director of photography for this feature. Having worked as a camera operator for other films like Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse (2015), Annabelle: Creation (2017) and The Disaster Artist (2018), Sowell's skill shines through on this. He keeps the cam steady and has some creepy shots filmed too. Lastly, the film score composed by Wojciech Golczewski was great listening to as well. Creating a theme using a music box type instrument, the tune will get the viewer's attention. Golczewski has also scored for Eraser Children (2009) and Night of the Wolf (2014). Off to a great start.

The movie isn't perfect, with far too little attention put on the premise. The actors on the other hand make up for that. As well as the skilled cinematography, decent practical effects and catchy music.

Points Earned --> 6:10