We seem to have a glut of horror movies at the moment, something that would make more sense if it was October rather than March. Having missed The Forest, and whilst awaiting the eagerly anticipated The Witch, I caught this neat little chiller.
It stars Sarah Wayne Callies and Jeremy Sisto as an American couple (Maria and Michael) living in India whose life is torn apart when their young son (Oliver) is killed in a traffic accident. Maria is haunted by the fact that she had to leave a trapped Oliver behind as the car sank into the ocean in order to save her daughter Lucy, and herself. Following a failed suicide attempt, the maid of the household tells Maria that she can talk to her son one last time if she travels to an abandoned temple and follows a ritual to summon him. She will be able to speak to him through a door but on no account should she open that door. It goes without saying that Maria cannot resist her desire to see Oliver and chooses to open the door…
To be honest, there aren’t any scenes as scary as the traffic accident because of how realistically that is portrayed, and having to make that decision must be every parent’s worst nightmare. However, for the most part this is pretty effectively done. The tension is built up nicely by director Johannes Roberts (also responsible for the underrated Storage 24) and composer Joseph Bishara.
Of course, the characters make bad decisions, but don’t they always in horror movies, and some cheap jump scares are used in the second half of the film, but a lot fewer than in many contemporary horrors. The theme of a mother’s grief and the possibility the story might just be a mental breakdown by Maria rather than an actual narrative, keeps things ticking along nicely.
Opinions will probably be divided on the ending, whether it is a brave move with regards to the fate of the main characters, or a cheap attempt to set up a sequel, but I’m prepared to give Roberts the benefit of the doubt.
Rating: 6.5 out of 10