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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:

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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 Entrance is an intriguing thriller that begins with Detective Porhowski (Sarah-Jane Redmond, right and bottom-right) being moaned at by her father that she shouldn't really be continuing in the law enforcement profession and that instead she should be taking an interest in Sylvia Manor, a retirement home for which he's just taken ownership with a view for her to eventually taking over 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 drug addict to a demon attacking him. The man turns out to be known drug dealer, Ryan James (Michael Eklund, below-right - who looks so much like a cross between Ethan Hawke and Peter Berg), so has he just been taking far too much of his own substances or is he 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 games to escape with their life. After getting out and asking the janitor where he is, he's told "you're in the one place you've chosen 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 she used 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 to out-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 this one ends with unconcluded possibilities that could lead to a sequel, it could only end up such that it's even more implausible than 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 the spooky moments are delivered perfectly with the right appearance and no problems whatsoever. There's on outstanding Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack including a moment 12 minutes in that, since the conversation prior to this had been quiet, had been reacting 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 a film 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 are only 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 thumb of 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 flavour of the movie without being too spoilsome.

FILM CONTENT PICTURE QUALITY SOUND QUALITY EXTRAS
OVERALL

Review copyright © Dominic Robinson, 2008.

DVDs reviewed by the editor are watched on a Panasonic TXW32R4 32" widescreen TV connected to either a Creative Dxr2 DVD-ROM player or Microsoft Xbox and played through a Sony STR-DB930 amplifier.

PC games reviewed by the editor are on: