The Door (2013)

The Door: Directed by Matthew Arnold. With Dallas Roberts, Alison Eastwood, Mattie Liptak, Anne Dudek. A radio talk show host unravels a conspiracy about encounters with mysterious beings known as The Shadow People and their role in the unexplained deaths of several hundred victims in the 1980s.

“Rarely do I come across anything in my viewing of horror movies that makes me jumpy or paranoid after turning the TV off. Most times I enjoy the film and then go on about my business with no worries. However, every once in a while a true gem of fear comes along and leaves its imprint on me as I shut off all the lights in the house and head to bed. Matthew Arnoldu0026#39;s u0026quot;Shadow Peopleu0026quot; had me searching the walls and windows for ghastly spots of unexplained darkness after watching it.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eParticipants in an experimental sleep study in the 1970s report seeing strange shadowy figures. They and several hundred other individuals die in their sleep soon after. The phenomenon was given the name SUNDS, which stands for u0026quot;Sudden Unexplained Nocturnal Death Syndrome.u0026quot; Doctors wouldnu0026#39;t talk about the shadows.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eIn the present, failing radio talk show host Charlie Crowe begins receiving calls from a teenager claiming shadowy intruders are coming for him. At first, Charlie believes the kid is mentally ill. His theory is challenged when the boy dies in his sleep. Things get even weirder when listeners of his talk show and people he tells about the mysterious shadowy figures begin dying in their sleep. Are these clusters of deaths a coincidence or are there sinister nocturnal forces at work?u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eu0026quot;Shadow Peopleu0026quot; takes the sort of ideas our nightmares are made of and puts them in a visual package. Everything youu0026#39;ve ever thought about someone or something watching you in your sleep is brought to life in this creepy little indie film.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eDirector Matthew Arnold shows great promise through his mastery of timing. He has a knack for setting up what you would expect to be your typical jump scare and somehow delivering it in an off-tempo manner that leaves the viewer surprised and shuddering.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eI canu0026#39;t say I completely agree with every choice of filmmaking he used for u0026quot;Shadow People.u0026quot; The movie is presented in the manner of many true crime TV shows are. Itu0026#39;s a re-enactment of u0026quot;true eventsu0026quot; with the actual people involved giving their commentary along the way. The concept is interesting but gets a bit distracting as the terror unfolds.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eMany religious individuals would express their belief that shadow people are demons or evil spirits. Much like in u0026quot;The Possessionu0026quot; or u0026quot;The Exorcist,u0026quot; the person has brought something into their house that allowed the entity access. I am of that mindset more so than any other concept brought up in this.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eIf I were to compare u0026quot;Shadow Peopleu0026quot; to other movies out there just as a way to spark peopleu0026#39;s interest, u0026quot;The Ringu0026quot; and u0026quot;The Apparitionu0026quot; immediately come to mind. By no means is this a carbon copy of either of those films. They just came to mind as I sat watching it.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eu0026quot;Shadow Peopleu0026quot; is that rare horror movie that leaves a lasting impression on its audience. The fear might wear off over time, but youu0026#39;ll never completely stop thinking about it. We all wake up in the middle of the night gasping for air, feeling like something is sitting on us, or thinking weu0026#39;re being watched. Is it just our imagination or could it be the shadow people?”