Two estranged brothers, Gordon and John, come together after their father disappears to close up his old video store. After gaining access to his office, they find a VHS game called Beyond the Gates. Back at their family’s house, they decide to play the game with Gordon’s girlfriend Margot. As they play, they open a portal to a supernatural dimension or world. Director Jackson Stewart co-wrote the film with Stephen Scarlata, they create a film about a Jumanji-like horror VHS game.
The game itself, at the basis, is fairly generic as most of those games were in the 90s. The family dynamics they build around the gameplay and in the game feels like a real family with issues, some more serious than the others. The characters created are interesting together with Margot, Gordon’s girlfriend, being the shining one. Of course, they gave a fun, horrortastic part to Barbara Crampton.
The casting of Barbara Crampton as Evelyn, the evil game hostess for the VHS portion of the game is great. Her icon status in the genre makes her an attractive game host while her performance is right on point for such games. The two brothers, Gordon and John, are played by Graham Skipper and Chase Williamson respectively. The two of them show proper chemistry for estranged brothers with little left in common. Both actors bring a personal touch to their very different characters and show talent while giving the appropriate performances for each character and for the movie.
As Margot, Brea Grant gives a scene stealing performance as she often does. As this is a throwback to 80s/90s VHS games and direct-to-video films, the design of everything from the game to the baddies and the gore had to fit that. Special makeup designers Josh Russell and Sierra Russell and visual effects supervisor Jason Richard Miller did a great job. The effects look fantastic, full of respect for the sub-genre they are in, and goretastic. They are not afraid to go where is needed and show the pieces in clear view and sometimes bright light. This adds a bunch to the film’s fun.
The film’s cinematography by Brian Sowell also adds to this by framing the house, the game play, and the brothers’ perils in a way reminiscent of late 80s/early 90s direct-to-video fare. The film looks great and is thankfully well lit so that the viewers can see everything that is going on, whether it is gross, cheesy, or a sweet scene.
Beyond the Gates is a fun horror-adventure film that is both modern and a nice throwback to the 80s and 90s. The opening credits are so awesomely from that period, the synthwave score works here. Barbara Crampton as a VHS game hostess is a genius move. The effects and the game’s box’s design look fantastic, kudos to the box designer. The actors are great fun to watch. It’s an enjoyable horror Jumanji. So, lower the lights, turn up the volume, sit close to the TV, and watch your screen.