The Entrance

THE ENTRANCE features a playfully sadistic demon busily rounding up sinners in order to torture them with silly games of life and death.

Detective Porhowski (Sarah-Jane Redmond) finds herself caught in the malevolent monster's snare.

Though it does drag in spots, this movie has a decent amount of mystery and suspense. It also has a high weirdness factor going on that helps to keep things interesting.

Ms. Redmond is especially good in her bedeviled role...

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.

If you are looking for a no-brainer, slasher, nudity laden horror flick - don't waste your time on this one.

After seeing some of the comments, I didn't expect too much - but was glad I gave it a chance.

Excellent performance by Michael Eklund as the drug dealer (look him up - this guy has no problem finding gigs); fantastic range in his performance.

The cinema-photography was excellent! Good sound track. All around good production values. Good cast and acting.

I loved the mystery of it; don't expect the "expected". Very good script; nicely layered; loved the way elements unfolded. Just when I kind of thought I knew where things were going, delicious little "twisted" twists were added. I liked that I was required to pay attention, to be patient and observant. Yes, the uneasy pacing - kept me off balance; added to the tension. And, I even experienced a couple startlingly scary moments; doesn't happen much for me anymore; such a treat.

I even liked the ending - unsettling as it was.

Well worth a coffee shop chat after viewing this film - so much going on; so much left to the imagination.

Great performances by a remarkably talented cast will tend to make a good script great. Happens every time. Written and directed by Damon Vignale, "The Entrance" showcases the importance a director should place on getting the most from his cast. In this case, Mr. Vignale started with great talent and managed to get, in my mind, award-winning performances from them. They, in turn, took the script and and ran with it very effectively. From beginning to end the pace of this film is consistent in its flow. The audience is drawn into the bizarre set of circumstances which befall a young female detective after interviewing a visibly upset felon. She embarks on a journey which ultlimately challenges her own humanity while forced to revisit a crime she was victim to in her childhood. Unfortunately, much of the subject matter of the film precludes it's being something for your kids to watch. Nevertheless, The Entrance should be on everyone's list of "should see's". A great piece.

The beginning scenes of "The Entrance" had me optimistic that the film was heading in an unique and frightening direction. Talk about a teasing let down! The flick opens with a terrified man (Michael Eklund, an Ethan Hawk look alike) fleeing from a demon in a deserted parking garage. He escapes and the next thing we know he's yacking with the cops unraveling some ado about being kidnapped and taken to a dark room where he and others sharing his plight are forced to play games. The losers of these games are subjected to 8mm black and white memories of egregious sins they have committed. Then, one by one, each is violently vanquished from the company of the others. The cop conducting the interrogation (Sarah-Jane Redmond) doesn't buy into it. Once she leaves the room to grab him a drink of water he vanishes. She calls it a night and takes off in her car only to get accosted by the guy at knife point who then demands she drive him back to the parking garage claiming, "They took something from me and you are going to help me get it back!" Excited to check this one out? Don't be, 'cuz the film goes absolutely nowhere ending abruptly at 80 minutes in length and useless. Throughout the tale, some attempt at drawing a correlation between the above and the exorcism of a 17th century nun fails to explain itself and what we are left with is a "WTF-There's an hour and twenty minutes of my life I will never get back!" Seriously, the film had tremendous potential and some unnerving visuals. I suspect finances fell short and creativity was sacrificed for a deadline. Disappointing.