Hellgate
Rated: Not Rated
Genre: Horror
Street Date: March 19, 2013
Available On: DVD

The Film: While visiting Thailand Jeff (Cary Elwes) is involved in a violent car accident that kills his wife and child. Waking from a coma Jeff begins to see violent deaths happening all around him. Aided by a nurse, Jeff comes to learn that he can now see into the “shadow world,” a place where trapped souls exists.

The Extras: Trailer

Recommendation: I don’t know why I sat down to watch “Hellgate” with high expectations. Maybe it was because it co-stars William Hurt; or perhaps it was because it won various awards at a few genre festivals. “Hellgate” is a mundane horror film at best. It features terrible dialogue, poor acting and a story that seems to make itself up as it goes along. There are a few creepy monsters in the shadows, but mostly everyone is just bathed in blood. There are a few good ideas scattered here and there but subplots that seem to be hinted at never happen and the final act of the film feels like a butchered and bloodied attempt at recreating the scene where Luke Skywalker goes into the swampy darkness to face his greatest fears.

-Ryan Michael Painter