Review of Right at Your Door (2006) by Aaron J — 11 Sep 2009

An absolutely chilling film, RIGHT AT YOUR DOOR is one of the best horror films made in the last decade or so. While not a film that would would automatically lump together in a genre that includes the likes of HALLOWEEN, FRIDAY THE 13TH, and THE EXORCIST, RIGHT AT YOUR DOOR is a film that exceeds the fright level of those films because this is a film that is, for the most part, rooted very much in reality.

RIGHT AT YOUR DOOR is a film that is carried on the backs of the two lead actors, Mary McCormack and Rory Cochrane, and they deliver in spades. Watching the situation that the two find themselves in deteriorate at an exponential pace over the course of the 96 minute film. Once the situation appears to have reached its most dire, watching the characters interact with each other is like watching an acting clinic, as both McCormack and Cochrane really combine to deliver an emotional punch to the audience.

Director Chris Gorak really heightens the terror in this film, and the surprises that he has in store for the viewer are downright shocking, especially in the third act of the film. Gorak's film is refreshingly original, and should serve as a blueprint for future filmmakers in the horror genre. We don't need anymore of the bland slasher films, we need more films like this, that rely upon character development and quality acting to get the viewer's attention. That's exactly what RIGHT AT YOUR DOOR is. It's a film that grabs the viewer with its realism and with the excellent performances, and then takes the viewer on one of the most terrifying rides in recent cinema.