Umbral de Satán

Being an admitted "haunted-house" movie nut, I'm always on the lookout for horror movies with more than just a maniac with a sharp object killing teenagers. Thanks to Roger Corman & Co. for coming through!

The story follows a just-married husband and wife team of paranormal investigators who buy "Sunset House" and honeymoon there because of the ghost-rich history of the old place. Once inside, they don't have to wait long before not one but two ghosts take an interest in the wife (Kimberly Rowe). There are at least a few scenes with nudity and/or sex, and Rowe - who looks like Charlize Theron's slightly less beautiful sister - carries them well. Although there isn't much star-power here (just good ol' Corman-guy David Carradine, who looks more like his old-man in every film), I think it works for the film rather than against it. Having unfamiliar faces in the leads, and complete unknowns in the supporting roles (this one was filmed at Roger's new studio over in Ireland, but takes place in a New England town) - especially in horror movies - makes the suspension of disbelief happen easier. There are a couple of truly scary and disturbing images here, and the production values are really high considering the fact that it's from Roger Corman -King of Low Budgets. The story was solid, and holds up all the way to the end. No scratching of the head afterwards - no loose ends. All in all, I LIKED it! Reminded me of another Corman flick of a few years back - Spectre. Anyone who liked Burnt Offerings, Legend of Hell House, or even Poltergeist should rent this one when it hits home video this summer.

My wife and I stumbled across "Knocking on Death's Door" last night while flipping the channels, but we found it captivating enough that we stayed with the film right up to the closing credits. We missed the first few minutes, so some establishing facts and character development were probably lost, but the story goes like this. Brian Bloom and Kimberly Rowe play newlywed parapsychologists whom move into a well-known "haunted house". Various ghostly phenomena begins to occur, such as a piano playing "London Bridge is Falling Down" by itself (and it's NOT a player piano), chalk slowly scrapes on the basement floor to gradually reveal more and more information on the ghost's history, camera lenses ice over, and so on. The spectral activity becomes focused on the moments when the young couple make love, as if the ghost (or ghosts) have developed a crush on Rowe's character. What follows is a tense thriller with anything from fair and campy special effects at times to excellent and chilling visuals in others that will leave you at the edge of your seat. (Luckily for the viewer, there are much more of the latter than the former.)

David Carradine and Kimberly Rowe play their roles quite well, emoting an uneasy sleaziness (in the case of Carradine), or a gentle inquisitiveness (Rowe) that lend credibility to the storyline. Brian Bloom, playing Rowe's husband, and the recipient of much of the ghostly violence (he is thrown against a wall by unseen forces when he hugs his wife...) seems to be the weak link as the actors go. Sometimes Bloom appears disinterested, other times he seems to be somewhat "medicated", but that doesn't detract from the overall enjoyability of the film.

Also notable is the eroticism displayed early on. The intimate scene between Bloom and Rowe is playful and loving, and Rowe truly has a breathtakingly beautiful body. A later scene wherein the two newlyweds are in separate rooms and Rowe pleasures herself as she watches her husband disrobe on camera is at once lovely and wildly erotic.

I have a feeling that had this movie been released in the early to mid 80's, it probably would've become one of the early "Amityville Horror" sequels, but even without a movie franchise tie in, "Knocking on Death's Door" is clever horror with good twists and a tense atmosphere that slowly builds throughout the whole film. Strongly recommended.

Ghost Stories are my favorite film and literature genres, but this film is a tragedy. What happened? Interesting concept, but shockingly poor execution.

Okay, not much of a title to this review, I know. But that was all I could say after watching this quite weak haunted house movie.

Bloom and Rowe play a newly-married couple, Brad and Danielle Gallagher, who are also parapsychologists. They move into the Sunset House up in rural New England, the house supposedly and quite candidly haunted. Almost immediately, the ghost starts to lash out, but I won't tell you why, it's so cheesy. Like, there's a story behind it, but on the outside, his (the ghost's) motive is so dumb. Anyhoo, a drunken gravedigger with his interests set on Danielle and a creepy doctor (Carradine) are thrown in for good measurement. Anyhoo, things go on very timidly, with only a few creepy scenes. And then the ending which totally heightens the cheese factor, and a twist made painfully obvious. In any event, the acting is sort of average, as are the scares. Overall, a pretty cheesy movie, which, apparently, takes itself seriously. I didn't. You could do better, so pass over this one.

While the story lagged, in particular, with the Carradine character, and seemed mildly predictable around his character, Kimberly Rowe shone triumphantly. She demonstrated fine acting ability and followed through with a strong character development and portrayal until the end sequence.

Brian Bloom again demonstrates his fine, handsome looks are yet only the front mask of an intense, estranged, and violently dangerous husband. This is the second film I saw him in, and is a great supporting role for him to keep under his belt.

Check this one out!!!!