Written by: Ashtyn at 2:10 pm
Filed under: Horror,Movies
Movie Info:
Writer: Michael Nankin
Director: Tibor Takács
Cast: Christa Denton, Stephen Dorff, Deborah Grover, Carl Kraines, Kelly Rowan
Rating: PG-13
Studio: Lionsgate
Release Info:
Original Theatrical Release Date: May 15, 1987
DVD Release Date: October 6, 2009
Online Availability: Amazon for $15.99
I went through this phase where I was simply in love with Stephen Dorff. This was recently, not when he was in The Gate, which was his first movie. I had seen The Gate when I was a kid. Of course I had, since I was addicted to horror. However, I had no idea who any of the actors in it were, nor did I put together the fact that Stephen Dorff was in it, and that he was the same Stephen Dorff I thought was hot.
Lo and behold, thanks to good ol’ IMDB, I discovered that the protagonist of The Gate was none other than Mr. Dorff himself, and it became my mission to re-watch this movie. The Gate is 100% campy and it personifies everything I love about 80s horror. It’s definitely not Stephen’s best film, but it is a fun watch and has its nostalgic purposes.
I have since moved on from my Stephen Dorff obsession, but I still like most of his work (c’mon, who can say they actually enjoyed Alone in the Dark?). Still, every time I see The Gate I can’t help but giggle at how adorable young Stephen Dorff was and feel sad knowing how talented he was (and still is), but what little recognition he’s received for such talent. Even though I’m no longer completely enamored with him, I’m still rooting for him and look forward to the new work he does.
The Gate is your typical, 1980s, PG-13 rated film. This movie is not going to make you scream in fright. It’s kind of cheesy. The effects are 80s effects, so they pretty much stink by today’s standards, but that’s part of what gives films like these their charm. Today, a movie like this would be laughed out of Hollywood, but back in the 80s, this kind of film was expected. Having grown up in that era, I have nothing but respect for these kinds of horror movies.
Before getting into the plot and all that other good stuff there is something I need to complain about and that is the box art. Like most horror lovers, I like my boxes traditional. I either like the original art used or scenes from the movie. Well, The Gate box didn’t use the original poster art or the scenes from the movie. Instead, they used some kid wearing sandals that doesn’t even appear to be Stephen Dorff. In the picture he’s in the hole (which he never was in the movie) and the little demons (old Gods) are all crowding around him. Sure, if it was ever a part of the movie it would work out just fine, but it wasn’t and Lionsgate would have been better off choosing something that was specific to the movie. At the very least it would have been nice for the fans.
The Gate Plot
Glen and his friend Terry are intrigued by the hole left in Glen’s backyard when a very old tree is removed from it. The two decide to go on an archeological dig of the site and excavate it, though those who removed the tree have attempted to fill the hole. While excavating the site, Glen gets hurt (not seriously) and leaves a tiny bit of blood behind. The two also find a quartz, during their dig.
When Glen’s parents go out of town for a few days, Al, Glen’s older sister is left in charge. Al, like any good teen of the 80s, throws a party, though Glen and Terry mainly spy on the party goers and don’t participate, except for a game where Glen is lifted up in the air and seems to be floating. Freaked out by Glen’s “floating experience, Glen and Terry have a sleepover instead. Before bed, Glen reads the writing that is written on the quartz, aloud. This seems to wake up some very angry, otherworldly beings, and things get pretty bleak for the boys from then on.
When the family dog ends up dead, Terry and Glen realize that something is not right with the hole in the ground. Terry discovers that the hole in the ground is actually a gateway to the land where demonic Gods live, Gods who once ruled the universe. The two quickly realize that the world is in grave danger, all thanks to Glen. When the dog is accidentally sacrificed to the demons, by Eric, the guy Al likes, all hell breaks loose (literally). However, if the boys can find a way to bring love and light to the gate and these demonic Gods, it might just give them the opportunity to save the world…and themselves.
Storyline/Plot: 
Replayability:
Acting:
Directing:
Audio/Visual:
Even if you own The Gate in a previous incarnation the upgrade in audio/video quality makes it worth purchasing one more time. Considering the age and the original source material I find it hard to believe that a better DVD version is on the horizon anytime soon. That being said, this version of The Gate offers an aspect ratio of 1.78:1 and it’s never looked finer. The colors are strong, the special effects are remarkable for the time period they are from, and the blacks are fair. The level of detail is acceptable and there are few complaints to be relayed. I did not notice many issues with compression errors or noise. In fact, I was quite impressed throughout the majority of the movie.
The audio offers a standard Dolby Digital 2.0 track that gets the job done nicely for this movie. The metal music comes through loud and clear, the sound effects do just fine, and the dialogue is always easily understood. Things like volume toggling and background fuzz are not an issue from what I could tell. There isn’t much at all to complain about as everything sounds good for a 2.0 track. Subtitles are also included in English and Spanish.
Visual:
Audio:
Bonus Features:
It’s hard to imagine this being called the Monstrous Special Edition because the bonuses are not so monstrous. In fact, you only really receive three bonuses. You get a commentary and two featurettes. While these aren’t bad offerings by any means, they are still a small bundle for something deemed “monstrous”. The commentary here is the one extra that really should have either been improved or left out altogether. Each of the featurettes include two different men. For the commentary these four men get together and talk about plenty of things you already know about if you watched the featurettes first. Now add in some awkward silences and the annoyance that comes with not all of the people being in the same room at the same time (melding commentaries usually doesn’t work) and you can see why this could feel like a waste of time.
“From Hell: The Creatures and Demons of The Gate” serves as a pretty good small making of/documentary. It’s not as long as a typical documentary so I hasten to call it one, but there is plenty of information here and interviews/chats with the designer and the man in charge of the effects. The makeup artist also has a chance to weigh in, too.
“The Gatekeepers with Tibor Takacs & Michael Nankin” is another chatty featurette. This time the writer and director are on hand. Plenty of information is offered about making the film and you can to learn more about the experiences that both men had while on set and during the film-making process.
Bonus Features:
Bottom Line:
The Gate in this Monstrous Special Edition has been enhanced from previous releases. The picture looks great, especially for the film’s age. While this release isn’t teeming with bonuses, what is here is pretty cool. Overall, I feel it is worth it to upgrade, if you already own a previous release of The Gate. If you don’t own this movie and you are a fan of 80s horror or campy films, you definitely will want to pick up this DVD. This is the best available version of this film, so this is the version you definitely need to own. The Gate (Monstrous Special Edition) is recommended.
Overall Rating:
Technorati Tags: The Gate, Stephen Dorff, Kids, Lionsgate, DVD Review, Movie Review, Horror, Special Edition
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Written by Ashtyn - Visit Website
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Ashtyn Evans is a writer, advocate, free thinker, and all around cynical person. Always quick to find the negative in anything pop culture, she loves being a part of that which she despises. Ashtyn and Dominick own numerous blogs together, as well as a full-time writing business. In her spare time she is a full-time college student studying History and Psychology. She plans to one day give up her freelance career and be a full-time blogger, novelist, and domestic goddess. She can be contacted for writing projects, fan mail, or just to say hi. She really is friendlier than we make her look.
