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The Other Side of the Door

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Sarah Wayne Callies in The Other Side of the Door (NuMetro)
Sarah Wayne Callies in The Other Side of the Door (NuMetro)

What it's about:

A family lives an idyllic existence abroad until a tragic accident takes the life of their young son. The inconsolable mother learns of an ancient ritual that will bring him back to say a final goodbye. She travels to an ancient temple, where a door serves as a mysterious portal between two worlds. But, when she disobeys a sacred warning to never open that door, she upsets the balance between life and death.

What we thought:

The Other Side of the Door has a number of good things going for it. It is set in 'exotic' India, there's a creepy Hindu sect who linger around cremation sites and a really scary looking four-armed supernatural creature that you wouldn’t want to encounter alone at night. 

Sadly though, the film doesn’t live up to its full potential as it relies on overused scare tactics such as a haunting and possession. 

During a holiday in India, American couple Maria (Sarah Wayne Callies) and Michael (Jeremy Sisto) decide to relocate permanently when Maria discovers she's pregnant. 

Six years later tragedy strikes the family when their son Olivier (Logan Creran) dies in an accident.  The couple are dealing with their loss and grief and trying to raise their youngest daughter Lucy (Sofia Rosinsky).

Maria who is wrestling with guilt tries to take her own life and flashback scenes reveal Olivier's tragic ending. 

Housekeeper Piki (Suchitra Pillai) who has also lost a child offers Maria a chance to say her final goodbye to Oliver. She tells her the story about an ancient temple in her village where people can communicate with the dead through the doors. There is one catch though, do not open the door. 

Maria doesn't heed her warning (and no this is not a spoiler) and Oliver's deranged spirit follows her own and causes all kinds of mayhem.

Callies (Prison Break, Walking Dead) really tries hard to give a good performance. She embodies the grieving, desperate mother to a T. The spotlight is on her and everyone else is the supporting cast. 

Sisto (Six Feet Under, Law & Order) doesn’t leave a lasting impression and is cut out of most of the action. 

The story isn’t anything new and while it starts out strong it falls flat as it delves into cliché horror territory. 

Sensitive viewers might find this hard to watch while hardcore horror fans might snicker at the attempt to cause a scare.



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