Hostile Dimensions

I love movies like this! I don't care how slow burn or how low budget they are. This was pretty fun overall. I would def watch it if the premise sounds interesting to you. But go in w certain expectations.

Two things for me I think: 1) The script seems like it needed a few more edits. It does feel like there are slightly too many things going on, but I don't think so. I think it just feels that way bc there needs to be better character distinction and understanding of each person's motives. There were some points where a character would say or do something that no human would want to say or do, just to get the plot where it was going. Therefore the character work just wasn't strong enough IMO.

2) I feel bad but.. the acting. There are several times when these people have just witnessed something they could have never possibly imagined. Their brain should be breaking and they should have stunned tears in their eyes. But their reactions are just never proportionate to what's going on. Same goes for any "scary" parts. Instead of wide eyed, screaming, piss-your-pants level fear, it's like "run! Hurry! Close the door! Omg what was that, ew".

Idk this needed to be focused grouped several more times. The premise and low budget effects and casual humor were really good though!

This film has a very good premise, but it miss it landing. The bones are good. I love other dimensions type stories, but this film lacks substance.

My criticism have nothing to do with the low-budget aspect of the film. I don't need flashing CGI, or special effects; I use my imagination on novels all the time, so I can be drawn to a good story. However, there is basically no story here. You can watch the preview is that basically the whole movie. See this door, see it goes to different dimensions, see me run through it, see we find so random dude who happen to be expert at interdimensional doorway travel, see I am an expert at it now...

My first issue is the acting is terrible. I seen better acting in high school plays. The actors to not delivery on emotion. So their reactions seem like people trying to act a part, rather than people just living their lives (especially, since this is a lost tape style movie, so they should come off as regular people).

Next is the film is just weird. There are so many potholes that it just confusing. It hard to find people's motivation for their actions, so everything seems dumb and unbelievable.

What if there was a door which could take you literally to other worlds, guided by your imagination?

This is the very fun concept explored by HOSTILE DIMENSIONS, a found footage movie in which all the action is seen either via cameras held by the characters or placed elsewhere.

Found footage is a niche genre, and unfortunately there are many such movies which are just not good, probably because they look like anybody and their brother could make one. Consequently, many untalented people attempt to, filling this subgenre with a lot of drivel, Also, there are certain story lines which are used over and over (example: film crew explores abandoned house/hotel/asylum/prison or what have you, and then experiences misfortune), making a lot of these movies quite predictable.

I have seen many found footage films and find it really refreshing to see one that explores a story this potentially mind-bending. It is also quite clear that this is one of those movies where the vision far exceeded the budget. Though the special effects are not top notch, they are adequate to convey that vision, and other nice cinematographic touches, like the colored doors on the beach, effectively contribute to a strange but fun feel for this movie.

The biggest drawback I find is the screenplay, which draws characters who seem unconvincing in their motivations (might be partially also be due to wooden acting in some cases), has some plot holes, could be better on the dialogue and does not quite explain certain things, including the ending. On the plus side, there is a plot twist I did not see coming somewhat around midway. I feel a couple rewrites would have helped a lot here.

So, while this is a flawed film, it is still better (and especially more fun) than the majority of found footage movies and that is how I rated it. Now this concept I would love to see milked more often.

Maybe not since Cecil B. De Mille have I heard the word smite in a movie, but it's here towards the end of this "Blair Witch" meets "Solo Levelling" low budget bobbins. I know I ought to be more supportive of my native independent sector, but this is just a mess of a film that Graham Jones must have thought looked good on the storyboard but that is where it ought to have stayed. It's all about a video that teases documentary film makers "Sam" (Annabelle Logan) and "Ash" (Joma West) with a conundrum. It shows us a couple of budding Banksy's exploring what looks like some derelict tunnels when they discover a stand-alone door frame with the door firmly shut. They can clearly observe both sides of this solitary object but still they open it and.... What happens next? Well our intrepid duo soon find themselves playing inter-dimensional "It's a knockout" as they unite with "Brian" (Hughes) to get to the bottom of the mystery. I did actually quite like the mischief in the premise and at times there are glimmers from the writing that bely the fact that this can't have much cash or time to accomplish it's goal, but seriously - it comes across as a student project. Constant swearing doesn't constitute comedy writing, slapstick is actually a precision art (probably why I don't much care for it at the best of times) not something that becomes funny because Harold Lloyd used to do it. Acting isn't just about being yourself amongst friends having a lark, you have to attempt to create characters that we can engage with. We don't have to like them, but we have to have some sort of hook else why would we care where this door does, or doesn't, lead. There's nowhere near enough focus on what we are supposed to be looking at or for and even the presence of a talking "Toto" couldn't make the story anywhere near cohesive enough to get into. Logan is certainly the most natural of the talent on display here but otherwise, this is a later night television project after a few pints that you might get a giggle from, but that's only a "might"!

This is a found footage film, I don't particulary like the genre. However I had fun with it. As other reviewers have put it perfectly: they seemed to have fun with it. The fun shines through, however it is useless to look for a deeper narrative or a "science" part in the science fiction. Also the characters are not real, they do not react normal (you find a portal to another dimension and do not try to a) go to some authority b) make money of it. Ok, but after you use the portal and get to a hostile place you also do not equip yourself with some kind of real weapon / armor etc.).

The upside is that it is quite entertaining you want to know how it ends. But its a one time watch, perfect for an otherwise lazy afternoon or night.