The beginning and the end of this movie were great. The middle sukked. If this movie were 30 minutes, it?d be great, but the middle drags on something horrible.
Several dirty bombs are detonated throughout Los Angeles, and an out of work musician is quarantined to his house along with most of Los Angeles, as contagious ash starts raining everywhere he realizes his wife driving to downtown at the same time, w...(read more)...(read more)ont be making it back. He boards up the house as told by his radio, while roaming teams of army soldiers in Hazmat suits lock up the infected and anyone caught outside their homes...well then a harrowing and realistic drama ensues about the fight for survival. It doesn't sound like much, but it was one of the most intense, interesting, and fulfilling films I've watched all summer, if not all year. The narrative is told from a first person perspective, and we never see more than half a second of explosion, there's no mention or focus on the "who" or "why" of the attack, only the aftermath and it's psychological effects. First time writer Chris Gorak captures horror and suspense without being exploitative, well certainly no more exploitative than any other horror film.
The first few scenes had me looking forward to this movie. But then the real plot began. Expect a slow story, poor dialogue and an ending that basically says "We hate the government!"
I rather enjoyed Right At Your Door, but its not perfect. I will make this review brief. The movie has some acting issues; McCormack is iffy and some others are sub-par, while Rory Cochrane, who I've never seen before, did a great job. The story in my opinion is somewhat unique but the way it is executed definitely is unique. It presents the viewer with a simple question: if your loved one is outside infected with some deadly toxic and you're inside, will you let them in and die with them or will you will you keep them out? Most people will say that they would open the door without a second thought, but this movie shows that human nature and the instinct of self-preservation aren't always so loving. The movie shows this play out very well.
This is a very low-budget film, so don't expect fancy special effects and explosions, instead the film focuses on the camerawork and music, or lack thereof, to create a realistic and claustrophobic atmosphere that is pretty frightening. The movie does have a pacing issue and it may become boring to some after a while but the movie truly redeems itself at the end by pulling an amazing twist that the viewer just won't see coming. This twist is what helps this movie become 4 star material instead of 3 star material. So if you like thrillers, movies about human nature, and plot twists, then I would definitely recommend you check out Right At Your Door. Watch the trailer at least, it's what got me to watch it.
this film is 1 to watch. didnt know what to expect...its sort of like 1 of those zombie films...with out the zombies- u really feel for the couple (wont say too much). but worth 1 watch
Remarkable movie. Independent filmmaking at its finest. As if things weren't tense enough once the bombs have exploded, things get really intense when the wife shows up again. The use of the radio as the guy's only source of information is very well done. And the acting is superb. There are a few gut wrenching moments between these two that really make you think.
GREAT MOVIE!!
Here's an interesting and suspenseful story plot about one man's experiences and struggles in an extraordinary chaotic event. One that has you thinking about what you would do in a similar situation, and what extremities would you factor in order to survive (regardless of the outcome). Intriguing story plot!! Brilliant conclusion. Rory Cochrane is great. A must-see!
04-27-08 --To begin with... I'm instituting my new ratings system with this movie. It includes Acting, Script, Theme (plot), Cinematography & Soundtrack (or sounds of the movie). This one got a whopping 3 1/2 stars. So, maybe my ratings will go up from here.
It wasn't a bad movie. It deserves the stars it got. It really keeps you glued to the movie and it really brings up a "what would you do?" type of situation. I thought that made the movie very engaging. Wasn't thrilled with the ending but hey maybe I'll start a new rating systems later on. Decent movie.
Starts off with Rory Cochrane (of Empire Records, Dazed and Confused, A Scanner Darkly and CSI: Miami fame) and his wife in a home in LA, she goes off to work and he stays home. An hour later the news is filled with reports of explosions going off downtown and everyone is sent into a panic. A thick cloud of dust is moving across downtown towards the Hollywood hills where the couple's house is. It's being reported that the cloud is poisonous and that people should stay in their homes and seal them up. Cochrane's character tries to get to his wife but fails and heads back home and seals up his home. Soon after his wife comes back and he cannot let her in because she has been contaminated. Goes on from there but you get the idea. It's pretty edge of your seat stuff with the drama and the uncertainty about what is going on.
Rory Cochrane, as usual, was amazing in his role. I wish he got more lead roles like this, or even main supporting roles. The ending is really fucking unexpected.
Great premise that failed to impress. The writer/director should've had better fact checkers before proceeding. The relationship between husband and wife could have been psychologically complex and heartwrenching but wasn't. The twist at the end was pretty cool but not cool enough to build an entire film around. Try again with a better script and don't forget that fact checker!
Though not scientifically accurate, and there is a lack of chemistry between the husband and wife, this is a decent movie. It poses the question 'what if?'
A really effective "what if?" thriller imagining what it would be like if a dirty bomb exploded in downtown Los Angeles. It's more effective because it tells the story at street level, looking at just one house and one couple as they get information from the radio, rumors, and witnessing things with their own eyes. I love Rory Cochrane and Mary McCormack, and they both do a great job in this. There's definitely an anti-news media and anti-government response slant here, but in light of Katrina and the pre-Iraq war drums, I think it's pretty warranted. A tense, well-made movie with a killer ending.
Action packed from the start, Rory Cochrane ( Empire Records ) portrays Brad, a regular guy trying to save his wife after toxic bombs are detonated all over LA. He is excellent as the desperate husband having to stay sealed in his home to avoid contamination while his wife stays outside due to her exposure to toxic gasses. He portrays desperation, his intenselove for his wife and helplessness in this horrific situation with brilliance & believability. The ending blew my mind. This is a great " think piece " after 9/11 & the rise of terrorism. Don't miss this film !!
So what's it about? A dirty bomb goes off in Los Angeles, jamming freeways and spreading a toxic cloud.
My thoughts on the movie? Awesome low-budget movie, I am becoming a big fan of these kind of low-budget movies because they have something that big money blockbusters don't have and that is a sense of realism and the actors seem to put a lot more effort in than in blockbusters. An interesting story that was put together very well and managed to stay interesting throughout with quite a gripping climax.
Conclusion: Dont't be put off by this movie because it is low-budget or you have not heard anything about it i gurantee it is better than some of the more mainstream movies that are around.
This film is alright. The scenario that's presented is creepy. The "What woud you do?" question stays in your mind throughout this film and as for the couple that are thrust into this situation, they seem only to real. The camera work is great and the shots of Los Angeles burning recall memories of 9/11 to make the situation all the more realistic and sad.
Decent thriller, that at least made me think quite a bit what I would have done in the same situation. Wasn't really what I expected, I guess I treated it as just another disaster film, but this one was more realistic in the terms of what happened in different situations, and the acting was acceptable as well. Definitely worth watching.
Food for thought: Does Right at Your Door espouse conservative or liberal ideals? The first half of the film courts that popular Republican dogma - "we've gotta tighten national security/install a democracy/wage war to protect ourselves from another terrorist attack!" seems to be the implied sentiment here. But once the men in the gas masks start showing up, the government's role in all this develops a dubious side.
Perhaps I'm the only one who approached Right at Your Door from this angle...at least, after the fact. The movie is a tense and involving thriller that has two great lead performances on characters that probably weren't interesting enough to deserve them. They're not the cause of the movie's eventual unraveling, so much as the shitty twist ending, the order du jour for young film-makers be they Hollywoodian or otherwise. It is really a shame that Right at Your Door was not brought to a simpler close.
I hope this brings Chris Gorak success in the future. He's a pretty damn decent writer and director, and has a great eye behind the camera. (This movie won Best Cinematography at Sundance, for good reason - toxin-covered Los Angeles never looked so beautiful.) As many directorial debuts are, this is a flawed work, but also highly watchable. Give it a shot.
This film was a surprise. A terrorist attack on L.A. involving chemical agents and dirty bombs has left the city in a panic as a nightmare unfolds for 1 couple. Brad and a repairman seal off Brad's house as his wife Lexi is stuck outside during her commute to work. As Lexi makes it back to the house they both must struggle with what has happened. She is stuck outside the house as he listens to authorities and decides to keep her quarantined since she was exposed to the hazardous chemicals. There is a pretty good twist ending that comes straight out of a classic Twilight Zone episode.
En svært simpel film dette, det har ikke vært mye penger inne i bildet her, og det vises. Dette trenger ikke å være noen negativ ting, og jeg synes folkene bak "Right at your door" har gjort en god jobb med hva de hadde til disposisjon. Det er ikke lett å skape dommedags stemning i Los Angeles når man ikke får vise noe som helst (nesten), av hva som skjer. Men det har blitt gjort på en finurlig måte her, og vi kjøper det. Det som trekker filmen ned er at den er for lang. Den bygger opp til noe som aldri helt kommer, og greit nok. Men det gjelder da å holde intensiteten oppe. Sørgelig nok skjer ikke det her, og filmen går på tomgang i rundt en halvtime. Når slutten endelig kommer øker vi nok en gang tempoet og intensiteten man savnet kommer tildels tilbake. Men det blir liksom ikke helt det samme igjen, kanskje fordi man ble lei av å vente på den?
Frickin' annoying. First 10 minutes, someting happens, then 80 minutes, nothing happens. Last 5 minutes, a lazy ending because the writers, once again, too lazy to finish their stories.
Plot: After multiple dirty bombs are detonated, spreading deadly toxic ash across Los Angeles, Brad inadvertently quarantines his wife, Lexi outside their new home by safely sealing himself inside. With the city under siege and martial law in affect, Brad and Lexi struggle to survive with few supplies, limited time and no information--all while separated by thin doors and thinner sheets of plastic. When "help" finally does arrive, it appears to be anything but.
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