Watch The Entrance (2006) Online

The Entrance (2006)
iMDB Rating: 4.2

Date Released : 6 October 2006

Genre : Horror, Thriller

Stars : Sarah-Jane Redmond, Michael Eklund, Ron Sauvé, Jerry Wasserman

Movie Quality : HDrip

Format : MKV

Size : 700 MB



 

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Vancouver Homicide Detective Porhowski likes her job, but her father would rather she do something less dangerous, like work for him in his latest project, specifically overseeing the renovation and ultimately managing the seniors care facility he has just purchased. One day, a man, who she later learns is drug dealer Ryan James, walks into the police station, and reports to her a fantastical kidnapping and murder. He states that he and four other men unknown to him were kidnapped, and taken to an underground parking garage where they were forced by a "voice" to play games against each other for their lives. The five were chosen for the sins they have committed. The loser of each game is shown a film of his sin before he is killed by a supernatural force. James was able to escape with the help of the garage's janitor, a man calling himself Joe Balberith. Porhowski dismisses his story, but her partner, Detective Nolan, and Police Constable Banks follow up on some leads regardless. But ...

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Review :

A film with some ambition, but too little edge

Independent films need to push boundaries. With limited budgets, often times little known lead actors and a small chance of distribution, these are the films - of any - that need to 'stand up and be seen', by delivering to the audience something exciting and exceptional. When it comes down to it, the domain of the independent film is one that is ripe with boundary pushing potential; we expect the independents to come in armed with an edge, much more so than their big budget Hollywood Cousins.

The central issue with The Entrance is that it's an independent film which wants to have an edge, and wants to present us with something we haven't seen before -- but in spite of its ambitions, it essentially falls flat. In spite of a somewhat original story, the potential for a good scare or two, an attractive and appealing lead actress and the promise of supernatural horror, we're left with no pay off, even after all of these elements are introduced into the film.

As a prime example of the film's difficulties in translating horror into terror for the audience, we're presented with a number of scenes --a strange woman alone and crying in a creepy, abandoned parking garage, a weird, freaky, wide-eyed old man speaking in strange tones, even people being snatched up and dragged away by an unseen demonic force... But none of these elicit anything from the audience, as there is no edge (little blood, little real suspense and virtually no mood) in each. The audience is left waiting for an eye popping moment, but will likely be unable to do much but shrug as the films slowly progresses.

Another issue lies in the use of the lead actress, Sarah Jane Redmond. While Sarah Jane is a more than competent actress, and delivers the only watchable performance of the film, she is not used to her full potential. There is a certain sensuousness emanating from Sarah's character, a certain sexuality which, as the film alludes to, has been shaped by past events. But this is never explored, and the film largely plays the character as a straight cop, with no deviations. This is not to suggest that Sarah's character needed to get nude, but that different aspects of her physical self and mental self should have been explored - they should have given her character an edge, which she lacked throughout.

More than anything, what really stands out for me was the lack of focus in this picture. In a film with an edge, you'd expect much more of a narrow focus, a certain direction. As this film seems to wander from one scene to the next, and leaves scenes open ended, you never get that razor focus you'd expect in a competent horror film, such as Saw.

Ultimately, the indies need that edge - and this film, though coming with seemingly all the right elements, fails to deliver with any kind of edge at all. It's a shame, considering the energy and work that went into it.