​The Other Side Of The Door, film review: Supernatural horror begins to creak

(15) Johannes Roberts, 96 mins. Starring: Sarah Wayne Callies, Jeremy Sisto, Javier Botet

Geoffrey Macnab
Friday 04 March 2016 00:20 GMT
Comments
Sarah Wayne Callies stars as a mother devastated by the drowning of her young son
Sarah Wayne Callies stars as a mother devastated by the drowning of her young son

You can see the film-makers' intentions in this India-set supernatural horror film. They are trying to tap some of the same sense of extreme dread and yearning found in Nic Roeg's Don't Look Now. This, too, is a film about bereaved young parents. Maria (Sarah Wayne Callies) is the mother devastated by the drowning of her young son, Oliver.

While her husband (Jeremy Sisto) loses himself in his work, Maria becomes more introspective. A maid tells her that if she travels to a far-away village, she may be able to say a final goodbye to her son: but she must ensure she doesn't open the door between the living and the dead.

As a psychological study of a grief-stricken mother, the film works well enough. When it turns into a tale of demonic possession, it begins to creak. It doesn't help that the evil spirits summoned by Maria from the land of the dead look like crusty old hippies on leave from a music festival.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in