‘Gates of Darkness’ DVD Review
Stars: Randy Shelly, Tobin Bell, John Savage, Adrienne Barbeau, Mary Mouser, Alexandra Davies, Lesley-Anne Down, Brandon Beemer, Carlene Moore | Written by Robert Hickman, Lesley-Anne Down, Chris Kanik | Directed by Don E. FauntLeRoy
Cinematographer Don E. FauntLeRoy, who helmed one of Steven Seagal’s last great movies, Renegade Justice (aka Urban Justice), before hitting the horror genre with a plethora of monster movies, including TWO of the Anaconda sequels and Damn Sea Vampires, returns to the genre for Gates of Darkness – which was originally made in 2019 and features one hell of a genre cast! Any film that stars John Savage, Adrienne Barbeau and Tobin Bell has to be worth a watch. Right?
Right?
Gates of Darkness is a quasi-religious horror that follows in the footsteps of films like The Exorcist and, more closely, Amityville 2: The Possession. The film tells the story of the Tate’s – a twin brother and sister whose father ran out on his family years ago. Their mother has since remarried, and Michelle (Mary Mouser) is adjusting well to her new stepfather and stepsister (Alisha Boe of Netflix’s 13 Reasons Why.) But her twin brother, Stephen (Randy Shelly,) is becoming more rebellious and distant, haunted by remembered fragments of a traumatic past… Which is not a good look when you attend a Catholic school run by an over-zealous Monsignor Canell, played by Tobin Bell! As those fragments take shape, Stephen begins to suspect that his father never abandoned them, but had run afoul of diabolical forces. When his grandmother commits a shocking act that exposes the sins of their close-knit Catholic community, and in particular the aforementioned Monsignor, they come for him. Ultimately Stephen must do battle with the supernatural powers of darkness raging in his Church, in his family, and in his own heart.
Told you this was similar to Amityville 2… Though this film’s troubled son, Stephen, is less of a demonically possessed villain and more a troubled teen who likes heavy metal and dresses like a goth. THAT’S what makes him a target. The question Gates of Darkness poses in its early going is what keeps the audience hooked – is Stephen’s behaviour, including strange visions (which Stephen stupid draws, furthering the fuel against him), possibly brought on by childhood trauma and an inherent hatred of the church OR is it demonic possession?
Whatever it is, it makes Stephen one of the most unlikeable characters in the film, even more than Tobin Bell’s Monsignor who’s SUPPOSED to be a target of hatred! Stephen should be a character we emphasise with, feel for and, ultimately, root for. But for most of Gates of Darkness running time Stephen is played like a total exaggeration – a moody goth teen turned up to 11 and then some. The fact he has a penchant for violence makes things even worse. Plus, honestly, actor Randy Shelly is not up to the subtleties and nuances a character like this needs – he just plays it as if he wants to kill people or cry all the time!
Gates of Darkness takes a turn into the actual supernatural once Stephen’s grandmother (played by Adrienne Barbeau) commits suicide at a family gathering. Let’s just say it looks like she doesn’t stay dead for long… even haunting Stephen’s twin sister Michelle, played by Cobra Kai’s Mary Mouser, who delivers probably, no, THE best performance in the film – one that is headlined by over-egged performances by Savage and Barbeau. Tobin Bell gets away with the over-exaggeration thanks to the way he plays the nuances of his character, leaving audiences wondering which side of the story his Monsignor is on. However, don’t get me started on the rest of Stephen’s family! You could build a barn. That’s all I’m saying.
Once granny’s dead all hell kicks loose. Literally and figuratively. Eventually, as the film progresses, that thing you suspect was the reason for Stephen’s hatred of the church, turns out IS the reason he hates the church; as it becomes apparent that Gates of Darkness is a horror movie hiding a diatribe about ritualistic child abuse by priests in the Catholic church by way of The Exorcist AND The Sixth Sense… with the demon possessing Stephen actually being the HERO of this tale!
And for that reason Gates of Darkness is actually a refreshing take on the exorcism movie. Whilst it may suffer from slow pacing and some sub-par performances it’s still a decent entry into the sub-genre. Apart from the epilogue… please someone, cut the epilogue!
Gates of Darkness is released on DVD on Monday, April 18th courtesy of High Fliers
