Right at Your Door
Director: Chris Gorak
Starring: Rory Cochrane, Mary McCormack, Max Kasch
Rated: 15
In this current time of paranoia about terrorism from largely imagined enemies, the government is running its own form of terrorism by creating a climate of fear amongst the public, which allows it to introduce new laws and measures that undermine our civil liberties and human rights. Tried getting on a plane lately? Just watch Adam Curtis's documentary, The Power of Nightmares if you think I am the one that is paranoid. It can be downloaded from archive.org.
However, after that opening diatribe the movie RIGHT AT YOUR DOOR is not really about terrorism, in the way that THE SIEGE is, but about the effects of dirty bombs that are exploded in downtown Los Angeles. After artist Brad (Rory Cochrane) sends his career wife Lexi (Mary McCormack) off to work, he hears an announcement on the radio about the explosions. In a fit of panic he races off to find his wife, only to be turned back by the rapidly enforced martial law and told to seal up his house from the toxic ash and stay inside. Using gaffer tape, plastic sheeting, and the help of a neighbour, Brad seals himself in the house with his assistant and awaits the arrival of help, while he despairs for his missing wife. Then she arrives at the house, where Brad is torn between letting her in and making her stay outside, as instructed, until medical aid arrives.
It is here that the film's tension really gets started as Brad wrestles with his conscience and love for his wife and his own fears and survival instincts. Most of the action takes place around the house, both inside and out, with a very limited cast, making for very intense and claustrophobic drama. The whole issue of terrorism and any of its political implications are not broached in the film. The continuous news reports heard on the radio only talk about practical things rather than speculate on who caused it. Interestingly, the film was finished just shortly before Katrina hit New Orleans and the emergency services inability, or lack of desire, to help seem to have been reflected the movie's events. But that is about the extent of the film's political input, with survival being the key theme.
With the streets deserted, it seems even the looters and anarchists are more interested in surviving the conditions created by the bombs than amassing material gain, or maybe it is just because it is suburbia. When news of a mysterious virus that is spreading with the ash is out, it appears the chances of survival are further reduced for those exposed, or so it seems right up to the riveting finale.
The intense drama is carried by the two lead actors, who give compelling performances that could easily be transferred to the intimacy of the theatre stage. For a small film it certainly raises some interesting issues, like what would you do in the same situation?
Watch the trailer
QuickTime | Windows Media
RIGHT AT YOUR DOOR is on general release from September 8.
Starring: Rory Cochrane, Mary McCormack, Max Kasch
Rated: 15
In this current time of paranoia about terrorism from largely imagined enemies, the government is running its own form of terrorism by creating a climate of fear amongst the public, which allows it to introduce new laws and measures that undermine our civil liberties and human rights. Tried getting on a plane lately? Just watch Adam Curtis's documentary, The Power of Nightmares if you think I am the one that is paranoid. It can be downloaded from archive.org.
However, after that opening diatribe the movie RIGHT AT YOUR DOOR is not really about terrorism, in the way that THE SIEGE is, but about the effects of dirty bombs that are exploded in downtown Los Angeles. After artist Brad (Rory Cochrane) sends his career wife Lexi (Mary McCormack) off to work, he hears an announcement on the radio about the explosions. In a fit of panic he races off to find his wife, only to be turned back by the rapidly enforced martial law and told to seal up his house from the toxic ash and stay inside. Using gaffer tape, plastic sheeting, and the help of a neighbour, Brad seals himself in the house with his assistant and awaits the arrival of help, while he despairs for his missing wife. Then she arrives at the house, where Brad is torn between letting her in and making her stay outside, as instructed, until medical aid arrives.
It is here that the film's tension really gets started as Brad wrestles with his conscience and love for his wife and his own fears and survival instincts. Most of the action takes place around the house, both inside and out, with a very limited cast, making for very intense and claustrophobic drama. The whole issue of terrorism and any of its political implications are not broached in the film. The continuous news reports heard on the radio only talk about practical things rather than speculate on who caused it. Interestingly, the film was finished just shortly before Katrina hit New Orleans and the emergency services inability, or lack of desire, to help seem to have been reflected the movie's events. But that is about the extent of the film's political input, with survival being the key theme.
With the streets deserted, it seems even the looters and anarchists are more interested in surviving the conditions created by the bombs than amassing material gain, or maybe it is just because it is suburbia. When news of a mysterious virus that is spreading with the ash is out, it appears the chances of survival are further reduced for those exposed, or so it seems right up to the riveting finale.
The intense drama is carried by the two lead actors, who give compelling performances that could easily be transferred to the intimacy of the theatre stage. For a small film it certainly raises some interesting issues, like what would you do in the same situation?
Watch the trailer
QuickTime | Windows Media
RIGHT AT YOUR DOOR is on general release from September 8.
posted by Chris Patmore at 5:59 PM
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