The Entrance

Introduction

Written, directed, edited and produced by Damon Vignale (he probably made the tea as well!), The Entrance is based on the writings of Father Sebastian Michaelis. In 1612, he performed an exorcism on Sister Madeline in Aix-en Province during which she revealed herself to be a fallen angel.

In present-day Canada, Ryan James walks into a police station wanting to make a confession to Detective Porhowskig. He claims that he and several others had been abducted and forced to play innocent games like bingo, poker and musical chairs, where the loser is confronted by their sins and pays a terrible price but the others 'win' the chance to play again.

In flashback, we see the events in the 'game room' and how they tie in to those in 17th century France whilst James kidnaps the detective and forces her to drive to the underground car park where his ordeal began.

Video

Damon Vignale clearly has a keen visual eye and uses strange camera angles, a washed-out palette and clever editing to keep you unsettled, leading to some effective jumps. For an independent film the picture is very good, with a limited amount of detritus.

Audio

A very good 5.1 surround track, with good atmospherics, clear dialogue and effective jumps.

Extra Features

Just the theatrical trailer.

Conclusion

Perhaps best described as Saw meets Se7en, The Entrance deftly mixes elements of both without seeming to rip-off either. The story unravels carefully, slowly cranking up the tension and deftly introducing the occult element in this well made Canadian horror movie.

Whilst no classic, The Entrance is enjoyable, with some genuinely scary moments and a well crafted ending that leaves you wanting more. Damon Vignale is a name to look out for and this is recommended for genre fans.