Film Review

The Door (2005)

Genre: Thriller/Suspense
Production Company: Dreamfast Cinema
Director(s): Bruce Wood
Producer(s): Bruce Wood
Writer(s): Bruce Wood
Running Time: 1 hr 32 min
Release Date: 2005
Production Budget: $10,000

Synopsis: Kent, a realist who does not dream, is skeptical of those who do. At the end of a long relationship, and desperate for new friends, he seeks the advice of Ori, his mentor. Ori thinks Kent has an identity problem, and sets him up with three people who happen to be lucid dreamers. As Kent befriends them, his motives are questioned. Ori warns him that they are a different breed, and not to get too involved. Kent ignores Ori's advice, until his new friend shoots him stating, "I know what you are."

REVIEW

This suspenseful script by writer/director Bruce Wood will keep you engaged throughout the film and thinking even after it is over. Though Wood has done other short productions, this is his first feature. From the start, you will be impressed when you put the DVD into the player and view the main menu. The graphics and design of the menu are creative, professional, will get your attention and made you want to watch the film. In the film itself, a fair amount of attention is devoted to development of the main characters, which aids the plot progression in this interesting look at dreams. Pacing is also good with sharp editing.

One general fault in the movie is that some of the actors don't seem to fit the age requirements for their roles. Wood admits that finding actors was one of the biggest challenges. However, while some of the performances were weak, the movie is anchored by good performances by Bill Ferris, who plays Kent, and Karla Magnan, who plays Charlotte. Another detail that distracts from the movie as a whole is what looks to be the application of a special effect possibly intended to make the final product look more like film instead of digital video.

A little more attention could have also been paid to flashback scenes (which play an important role in the story line), especially in the wardrobe department. While the scenes were supposed to take place in the 1970's, wardrobe doesn't accurately reflect that.

Bruce Wood is a contemporary painter and film/video maker. His avant-garde short films have been featured in solo presentations at many fine art venues, including the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London and The Museum of Modern Art (Beaubourg) in Paris. His films are in the collections of The Carnegie Institute Museum of Art, The Royal Film Archive of Belgium, and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Wood studied at Massachusetts College of Art (BFA), and was a student of Stan Brakhage at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (MFA).

THE DOOR is available for purchase at Filmbaby.com, Amazon.com and Buy.com.


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	Film Review The Door (2005) Genre: Thriller/Suspense Production Company: Dreamfast Cinema Director(s): Bruce Wood Producer(s): Bruce Wood Writer(s): Bruce Wood Running Time: 1 hr 32 min Release Date: 2005 Production Budget: $10,000 Synopsis: Kent, a realist who does not dream, is skeptical of those who do. At the end of a long relationship, and desperate for new friends, he seeks the advice of Ori, his mentor. Ori thinks Kent has an identity problem, and sets him up with three people who happen to be lucid dreamers. As Kent befriends them, his motives are questioned. Ori warns him that they are a different breed, and not to get too involved. Kent ignores Ori's advice, until his new friend shoots him stating, "I know what you are." REVIEW This suspenseful script by writer/director Bruce Wood will keep you engaged throughout the film and thinking even after it is over. Though Wood has done other short productions, this is his first feature. From the start, you will be impressed when you put the DVD into the player and view the main menu. The graphics and design of the menu are creative, professional, will get your attention and made you want to watch the film. In the film itself, a fair amount of attention is devoted to development of the main characters, which aids the plot progression in this interesting look at dreams. Pacing is also good with sharp editing. One general fault in the movie is that some of the actors don't seem to fit the age requirements for their roles. Wood admits that finding actors was one of the biggest challenges. However, while some of the performances were weak, the movie is anchored by good performances by Bill Ferris, who plays Kent, and Karla Magnan, who plays Charlotte. Another detail that distracts from the movie as a whole is what looks to be the application of a special effect possibly intended to make the final product look more like film instead of digital video. A little more attention could have also been paid to flashback scenes (which play an important role in the story line), especially in the wardrobe department. While the scenes were supposed to take place in the 1970's, wardrobe doesn't accurately reflect that. Bruce Wood is a contemporary painter and film/video maker. His avant-garde short films have been featured in solo presentations at many fine art venues, including the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London and The Museum of Modern Art (Beaubourg) in Paris. His films are in the collections of The Carnegie Institute Museum of Art, The Royal Film Archive of Belgium, and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Wood studied at Massachusetts College of Art (BFA), and was a student of Stan Brakhage at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (MFA). THE DOOR is available for purchase at Filmbaby.com, Amazon.com and Buy.com.