Horrific, eerie, ghastly, grotesque, creepy, evil all the things that make a good horror film and The Other Side of the Door fits the mold. Nicely directed by Johannes Roberts who has several horror flicks under his belt, the film frightens with unique characters and a story that’s based on the mysticism of India. If you want to be entertained on a dark rainy night curled up with a loved one or popcorn and drinks for “friends” night, try this bloody tale on for size.
Michael (Jeremy Sisto) and his wife Maria (Sarah Wayne Callies) are antique dealers searching for riches in Mumbai, India when she tells him she’s pregnant. They like the country so well that Michael suggests that they make Mumbai their home base. Six years later in a car with her son Oliver (Logan Creran) and younger daughter Lucy (Sofia Rosinsky) a horrible accident finds Maria believing at fault for the death her boy.
We pick up the action a couple of years later with Maria still trying to cope with the loss blaming herself with the death of her son. Piki (Suchitra Pillai), the in home worker and a loyal housemaid and servant, sees the stress on the family and offers Maria a chance to say goodbye to her dead son. “What if I can bring your son back to you just one more time so that you could say your final goodbye?” she says. With this she tells her of a temple of the dead.
Director and writer Johannes Roberts depicts his story creating interesting characters that are compelling. He bases his script on India beliefs exploring the pages of their books that include discovering the ancient Aghori who feed on the ashes of the dead believing it allows them to contact the departed souls. It’s a chancy theme, but a good one if you can build a story showing a grave loss of a loved one, raise the bar on evil by creating ghastly images and showing a determination by a mother to give her own life for one last chance at forgiveness. And The Other Side of the Door does just that.
Sarah Wayne Callies commands the screen as Maria the mother who harbors the guilt of the loss of her son. She’s trying to hang on to her senses, but deep down in all she wants to do is die so she can see her son one more time in the afterlife. She makes Maria an engrossing character, one most women would probably understand in the situation pictured on the screen.
The acting by Jeremy Sisto as a man pulled apart by his wife’s actions, is very good. He’s oblivious at first that Maria would even go so far as to believe in the afterlife and makes his character naïve. At the same time he’s the one who’s been the strength of a family that’s suffered a severe loss while continuing to antiques business. He becomes aware of the consequences, but finds himself helpless.
The character Piki depicted on the screen by Suchitra Pillai makes the film very sinister with signs of evil lurking within her. She’s had a similar experience with the temple of the dead with a good outcome so presses Maria to consider. Believing in India reincarnation stories makes her a credible figure, yet on the edge of evil. She’s the catalyst that unites all the characters associated with this family about to deal with death.
Special Bonus features include the following:
“Deleted Scenes” several scenes that were deleted from the film to protect the fatal twists.
“Behind the Door” a statement by director Johannes Roberts on how he came about making the film and the impetus behind it.
“Gallery” a picture book of stills from scenes in the movie, sets and props.
The Other Side of the Door has been rated R by the MPAA for some bloody violence. It also contains disturbing images, gore and a scene of sensuality. Please watch the film before deciding to allow immature children see the film as most of the scenes may be considered inappropriate for adolescents.
FINAL ANALYSIS: A better than average film for those that like the horror genre. (B-)
Specifications and additional video information:
Cast: Sarah Wayne Callies, Jeremy Sisto, Sofia Rosinsky, Suchitra Pillai-Malik, Logan Creran, Javier Botet.
Directed by: Johannes Roberts
MPAA Rating: R for some bloody violence
Genre: Horror
Running Time: 1 hr. 326 min.
Original Theatrical Release Date: March 4, 2016
Video Release Date: June 7, 2016
Language: English (Spanish and French language available on disc)
Reviewed Format: Blu-ray (also available on DVD and Digital HD)
Audio: DTS HD Master Audio 5.1
Video: Widescreen, Aspect Ratio 2.39:1
Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, French
Number of Discs: 2 Discs (Blu-ray Combo Pack also includes DVD and Digital HD)
Distributed by: Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
