Beyond the Gates (2016 film)
A retro horror film about a VCR board game.
In 2016, the horror film Beyond the Gates, directed by Jackson Stewart and featuring Barbara Crampton, debuted at the Los Angeles Film Festival on June 2. There, it secured the audience award in the festival's midnight section.
Quick Facts
- Director
- Jackson Stewart
- Producer
- Barbara Crampton; Amanda Mortimer
- Writer
- Stephen Scarlata; Jackson Stewart
- Starring
- Barbara Crampton
- Brea Grant
- Chase Williamson
- Graham Skipper
- Music
- Wojciech Golczewski
- Cinematography
- Brian Sowell
- Editing
- Josh Ethier
- Production companies
- Destroy All Entertainment
- Easy Open Productions
- Lodger Films
- Thunder Warrior Productions
Facts from the source article.
Plot
Gordon Hardesty and his brother John, who have been out of touch, come back together at their father's video store. The father has been gone for seven months. Later, Gordon heads to his dad's house, and his girlfriend Margot shows up there. The two go out to eat at a nearby spot and run into John along with his friend Hank, a drifter. Hank says something rude to Margot, which gets under Gordon's skin. After that, Gordon and Margot go back to the father's house to sleep. In the middle of the night, Gordon jolts awake because he hears something and spots a shadow outside on the street. He notices a key on a bedroom shelf marked "Office."
The next day, the brothers are at the store boxing up videos when Gordon brings up checking out their father's office. Inside, they come across a VCR board game called "Beyond the Gates." The VHS tape for the game is already loaded in the office VCR—it was the last thing their father watched before vanishing. They hit play, and a woman named Evelyn appears on screen, asking if they're ready to risk their souls to play. A bright flash and a strange sound hit, and the brothers shut it off. When they step back into the store, they realize hours have slipped by.
That evening, John joins Gordon and Margot for dinner. After hearing about the game, Margot thinks it sounds like fun and wants to try it. They put the tape in again, and Evelyn tells Gordon, who is the blue player, to stand in front of the TV. She asks the brothers if they have the guts to do what it takes to save their father—find the "four keys." The gameboard has key symbols in each corner. Spooked by how much Evelyn seems to know about them, they turn the game off once more. Later that night, Gordon wakes up at 3:13 again and heads downstairs. The TV is on with static, and John and Margot soon join him. Worried, they call their friend Derek, a cop, to check out the tape. This time, Evelyn just scans the room, and Derek only sees static. He leaves, annoyed. They find a receipt inside the game box and decide to visit the store where it was bought the next morning.
That store turns out to be a strange occult shop run by a peculiar man named Elric. When they ask about the game, he tells them that once it starts, they have to see it through to the end. As they leave, John swipes a dagger that looks like one from the game's images.
Reception
Critics had mixed but largely nostalgic reactions to the 2016 horror film "Beyond the Gates." Noel Murray of the Los Angeles Times noted that viewers who miss the days of VHS board games would enjoy this movie, which is retro both in its style and its subject matter. Justin Lowe of The Hollywood Reporter described it as a low-budget horror-comedy starring Graham Skipper and Chase Williamson that enthusiastically revisits genre conventions from the 1990s.
Katie Rife of The A.V. Club gave the film a B, calling it an odd and sometimes uneasy blend of stylized retro horror and character drama, comparing it to a game of Exquisite Corpse between the Duplass brothers and Full Moon Pictures. She said it is not very scary but remains faithful to its 1980s influences, including a deadbeat dad character. Dennis Harvey of Variety called it a fun flashback to the era of cheesy direct-to-VHS horror. Kalyn Corrigan of Bloody Disgusting described it as a wickedly fun trip down memory lane to 1980s cult classics like The Gate, From Beyond, and Re-Animator.
She praised its light and playful atmosphere, calling it one of the most enjoyable films at the Los Angeles Film Festival and a movie that works well for repeat viewings at home with friends.
Some critics were less enthusiastic. Jake Dee of JoBlo.com gave a qualified endorsement, admitting the film is not great, with amateurish acting, a slow start, and limited resources. Still, he said it is worth checking out as a low-budget indie horror flick and puts viewers on notice for what writer-director Jackson Stewart might do next. Neil Genzlinger of The New York Times found the film disappointing, saying it shows early promise but ends up in the bin of ordinariness.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who stars in Beyond the Gates (2016 film)?
Beyond the Gates stars Barbara Crampton, Brea Grant, Chase Williamson and Graham Skipper.
Who composed the music for Beyond the Gates (2016 film)?
The music for Beyond the Gates was composed by Wojciech Golczewski.
Who wrote Beyond the Gates (2016 film)?
Beyond the Gates was written by Stephen Scarlata and Jackson Stewart.
How long is Beyond the Gates (2016 film)?
Beyond the Gates has a running time of 84 minutes.
More in American Horror Drama Films
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced