Sur le seuil

In Montreal, on the same day that a policeman shot twenty-one children, killing eleven, without any reason, the successful writer Thomas Roy (Patrick Huard) amputates his fingers and tries to commit suicide. Completely catatonic, he is treated by Dr. Paul Lacasse (Míche Côté) and his big fan, the pregnant Dr. Jeanne Marcoux (Catherine Florent) in a psychiatric hospital. When the journalist Charles Monette (Jean L' Italien), who is writing a book about Thomas, schedules a meeting with Dr. Paul, he shows pieces of newspaper showing that Thomas was present to the last thirty-seven tragedies in Canada. Dr. Paul reads the notes and decides to investigate further the life of Thomas Roy, disclosing dark secrets about his past.

The unknown "Sur le Seuil" was a great surprise and one of the scariest movies I have recently seen. The simple, impressive and credible story practically does not use special effects and is supported by a solid screenplay, associated with a sharp direction and excellent performances. I would not recommend this movie to sensitive persons since it may shock. I do not agree that this movie is a rip-off of famous movies, like "The Omen", "In the Mouth of Madness" or "Rosemary's Baby", on the contrary, the story is quite original. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Além da Fé" ("Beyond Faith")

This film has no dynamic composition to nail you to the screen. Pity, as it really has wonderful actors, some beautiful camera work. Idea is pure mediocrity and all the film could be done in 20 minutes and we wouldn't even remember what happened during the rest of the time and certainly wouldn't regret. As for the plot, I don't see it original. Evil in human form transformed into controversial social character of individual, all that has been exploated a million times especially since the early years of the 70s, and then later on we got tons of movies where "the evil" is being spread around causing disasters, while all the time being observed by skeptic representatives of modern science. 2 out of 10, if you ask me.

Bad reviews here just don't give this movie a chance ! It's Eric Tessier's first feature lenght film, so sure it has some beginner's mistakes (mostly continuity) but as such, it's no different and in fact VERY reminiscent of David Cronenberg's early films (SHIVERS, RABID) to which Tessier obviously pays homage and gets inspiration from (along with other horror classics already mentioned in the reviews here). So as a first effort, it's quite good and more than worth a look as an early example of Quebec's Horror renaissance of the years 2000 ( including even better titles like ST MARTYRS DES DAMNÉS/ST MARTYRS OF THE DAMNED (2005) and LES 7 JOURS DU TALION/7 DAYS (2010) which, like SUR LE SEUIL, is also inspired from a novel by Quebec's favourite horror writer Patrick Sénécal).

This Quebec film has all the hallmarks of an international thriller, and has a great deal of local color that gives it a touch of authenticity. Stunningly filmed and edited, it keeps you guessing until the final excruciating moments. Worth watching!