By Geno McGahee
Angelica (Catherine Munden) is a teenager in high school with a crush on Brad (Mike Dunay), but it is not something that everyone approves of. Her mother is highly suspicious of her friends, especially Staci (Sarah Christine Smith), when she finds provocative photographs of her on line.
Angelica’s mother is very nosy and is in her daughter’s business. She checks her phone messages, emails, and texts, and is keeping her in a bubble as much as she can. She won’t allow her daughter to attend the party of the year because she’s just not comfortable with the crowd. She tends to think that there will be plenty of sex and boozing going on.
An urban legend begins to go around about a pirate radio station where the host can grant your wishes if you call in. Not being allowed to go to the party, Angelica gets very frustrated and thinks that Brad may be fooling around on her, which is helped immensely by the evil Staci that stages some romantic moments between Brad and a girl at the party and then sends the images to her “BFF.” Smith does a great job as the bitch. She is very unlikable as the conniving friend.
Depressed, Angelica phones the radio station and asks for her parents to get off her back and to get vengeance on all of the pricks out there…more or less, and that is when this movie switches into EVIL DEAD mode. When her group of “friends,” really a group of spoiled pricks, and Brad show up, things become very strange and one by one, they die and/or get possessed by this evil.
THE OPEN DOOR stands out. It is a low budget flick with a lot of heart and it is written well. Each character is distinct and believable. In fact, I have known a lot of people that have reminded me of some of these characters.
This movie is a winner. Although not incredibly original, it does have charm of its own and the idea about an evil radio station was quite interesting. The pacing is great and the acting is very good. I highly recommend this.
Rating: 7/10.
