Movie Review: Gates of Darkness 2019
Gates of Darkness is a movie that falls squarely into the horror genre, telling the story of a group of friends who stumble across a mysterious book that unleashes an evil force on their small town. While the film has some good moments, it ultimately falls flat due to some poor execution and uninspired storytelling.
One of the biggest issues with Gates of Darkness is its pacing. The movie takes too long to get going, spending far too much time setting up its characters and their relationships before any real conflict arises. By the time things start to get interesting, it’s hard not to feel like you’ve been waiting forever for something to happen.
That said, when Gates of Darkness does get going, there are some genuinely creepy moments. The film’s use of practical effects is commendable and there are some images here that will stick with you long after the credits roll. Unfortunately, these instances are few and far between.
Another issue with Gates of Darkness is its cast. While many horror movies feature inexperienced or unknown actors in key roles (often to great effect), here we’re left with a group that fails to make much impact at all. There’s little chemistry between them and they deliver their lines in a way that often feels stilted and unnatural.
While I can’t fault director Don E. FauntLeRoy for his ambition (there are certainly worse ways he could’ve spent his time), he doesn’t quite pull off what he set out to do here. There’s nothing inherently wrong with hewing closely to genre conventions but without anything new or interesting added into the mix, Gates of Darkness quickly becomes predictable.
In conclusion, while I appreciate what Gates of Darkness was trying to do (scare audiences), it ends up feeling like an underwhelming offering from a genre that has seen no shortage of quality films over the years. If you’re looking for something truly spooky this Halloween season, look elsewhere.
Release : 2019-10-01
Genre : Horror
Runtime : 91
Home Page :
Company : In Extremis, Stephen G. Perry, ITN Distribution
Cast : Randy Shelly as Stephen Tade, Tobin Bell as Monsignor Canell, John Savage as Joseph, Adrienne Barbeau as Rosemary, Lesley-Anne Down as Sister Clare
GATES OF DARKNESS Trailer (2019) Horror Movie HD official trailer
