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Dom Robinson reviews
DNC Entertainment
- Cert:
- Cat.no: DNC1016
- Running time: 77 minutes
- Year: 2006
- Released: October 2008
- Region(s): 2, PAL
- Chapters: 8 plus extras
- Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1
- Languages: English
- Subtitles: None
- Widescreen: 1.78:1 (16:9)
- 16:9-Enhanced: Yes
- Macrovision: Yes
- Disc Format: DVD 9
- Price: £15.99
- Extras: Trailer
- Vote and comment on this film:
Director:
- Damon Vignale
(The Entance, Little Brother of War, A Perfect Note)
Producer:
- Andrew Hamilton and Damon Vignale
Screenplay:
- Damon Vignale
Cast :
- Detective Porhowski: Sarah-Jane Redmond
Ryan James: Michael Eklund
The Janitor: Ron Sauvé
The Rapist: Jerry Wasserman
The Devil: Frank Cassini
Officer Banks: Colin Cunningham
Stan Porhowski: Bernard Cuffing
Detective Nolan: Hiro Kanagawa
The Paedophile: C. Ernst Harth
Demon: Taja Lee
1st Sinner: Zoltan Barabas
The Priest: Daryl Bennett
The Nun: S. Siobhan McCarthy
Officer Grant: Joel Wirkkhunen
Drug Addict in Parkade: Lauren Littleton
The Entranceis an intriguing thriller that begins with Detective Porhowski (Sarah-Jane Redmond, right and bottom-right) being moaned at by herfather that she shouldn’t really be continuing in the law enforcement profession and that instead she should be taking aninterest in Sylvia Manor, a retirement home for which he’s just taken ownership with a view for her to eventually takingover his business, even if it is depressingly run down and dilpidated.
We then cut to see a man apparently hallucinating in a car park and seeing all kinds of bizarre things from a repellent drugaddict to a demon attacking him. The man turns out to be known drug dealer, Ryan James (Michael Eklund, below-right – who looks somuch like a cross between Ethan Hawke and Peter Berg), so has he just been taking far too much of his own substances or ishe really telling the truth?
In an interview with the detective, he talks about being holed up in a room with four other guys who have to play gamesto escape with their life. After getting out and asking the janitor where he is, he’s told “you’re in the one place you’vechosen to be… the entrance… or exit, depending on your point of view “
Curious and curiouser… especially as you begin to look into what leads her into this, and also just what’s with that janitor?
The Entrance has a wonderfully effective cast, particularly from the leads and there’s great support from all involved too.Sarah-Jane Redmond is hot as hell, and in fact, in this role she looks a bit like Susan Kennedy from Neighbours when sheused to have long hair.
However, the film itself falters in the last third and doesn’t build upon what’s come before it, more just seeking toout-weird what we’ve already seen, which is a great shame.
The end credits promise this is part one of a trilogy, but I think we’ve seen the best of what it’s got to offer. While thisone ends with unconcluded possibilities that could lead to a sequel, it could only end up such that it’s even more implausiblethan the average episode of Prison Break.
The film is presented in 1.78:1 anamorphic and looks superbly detailed for the most part except for a few soft scenes, but thespooky moments are delivered perfectly with the right appearance and no problems whatsoever. There’s on outstanding DolbyDigital 5.1 soundtrack including a moment 12 minutes in that, since the conversation prior to this had been quiet, had beenreacting for the remote to turn down the sound as quickly as possible for fear of (a) disturbing the neighbours and (b)ruining my speakers (albeit with a damn cool aural experience!). And the top sound FX doesn’t stop there, making this afilm which will really make you jump when you turn the sound back up and… well, you’ll have to see it to hear it!
The main menu is static with music from the end credits on a short loop DNC need a lessson in chaptering because there areonly a mere 8 to stretch across the 77-minute running time which isn’t enough by any means. I always go by a rule of thumbof at least one every five minutes. It’s not as if distributors have to pay for every one they insert(!)
There’s a lack of extras too – just a trailer (1:32 in length, 16:9 and, rather oddly, windowboxed!) and it gives a flavourof the movie without being too spoilsome.
PICTURE QUALITY
SOUND QUALITY
EXTRAS
OVERALL
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.