The Pale Door
The Pale Door is an exploration of the ties that bind set against the cold emptiness of the Wild West — one that utilizes elements of witchcraft and sorcery to question how far people will go to protect others, particularly family, when faced with insurmountable odds. Horror is present throughout, but so is the drama that’s firmly rooted in the human condition, and it’s in striking that balance that co-writer/director Aaron B. Koontz creates something memorable.
Brothers Duncan (Zachary Knighton, The Hitcher) and Jake (Devin Druid, Louder Than Bombs) grow up on opposite sides of the law after a traumatic childhood event leaves them homeless and grieving for the loss of their mother. Eldest child Duncan grows up to lead The Dalton Gang, while the younger Jake works at a saloon, dreaming of buying back the family’s home. After losing a member of his outlaw crew, Duncan reluctantly allows Jake to join him on a train heist. The robbery goes awry, and the chest believed to be filled with cash instead contains a young girl. Upset, wounded, and wanted, the gang seeks shelter in a seemingly uninhabited ghost town, but discovery a world of misery instead.
It’s at this point that the crime elements of The Pale Door give way to something far more sinister. As the Dalton Gang seeks relief, they’re surprised to find a brothel in the middle of town. The allure of women and drink distracts the roughnecks long enough to fall prey to a coven of bloodthirsty witches hellbent on getting their fill of flesh. Chaos and violence ensues, all brought to life with incredible practical effects, as the outlaws face off against forces far more powerful than themselves.
Knighton and Druid are largely unknown to mainstream audiences, but it’s the chemistry between them that keeps The Pale Door on its hinges. As the body count rises and the mystery of the town is revealed, viewers can’t help rooting for the brothers to overcome the mystical and emotional demons that plague them. You feel for them despite knowing virtually nothing about them beyond what’s established in the first five minutes of the story, an effect that speaks highly to the talent of both actors.
Similarly, the familiar faces of horror that make up the Dalton gang do their best to bring one-dimensional supporting characters to life. Pat Healy (Cheap Thrills) plays a pseudo-religious criminal with a mean streak and frozen heart, Noah Segan (Knives Out) coughs up one-liners like they’re going out of style, and Bill Sage (We Are What We Are) delivers life lessons with gritted-teeth as well as anyone could hope. The real standout, however, is Better Call Saul star Tina Parker as the foul-mouthed, brash, and bossy Brenda.
Koontz wrote the film with his Camera Obscura co-writer Cameron Hughe and Creepshow reboot writer Keith Landsdale. The trio largely nail The Pale Door’s horror elements, but struggle with convincing dialogue, especially when exposition is necessary. The characters are smart enough to rob trains and outwit witches, but barely form sentences beyond simple expressions and commands. Everything is “give me this” or “fuck that,” and, sometimes, it’s both at once. The script is a vast improvement over Obscura, but Koontz and Hughe still have significant room for improvement in that department.
To his credit, however, Koontz makes magic happen on a shoestring budget. The Pale Door has a lot of great elements, especially where the witches and the terror they deliver are concerned, but a lack of basic things (e.g. extras) makes the world he creates seem hollow. Aside from a few train passengers that appear in the first 20 minutes and a few nameless witches, the only people viewers ever see are the principal cast. Their strong performances make up for any shortcomings, but one cannot help wondering what would be possible if he had more money at his disposal.
Grade: C-plus. Not rated. Available to rent via Amazon Video, iTunes, and other streaming services
(Photo: RLJE Films)
