The Gates (2023) Movie Review

The Gates – Movie Review

Director: Stephen Hall

Writer: Stephan Hall, Tim Reynolds (Screenplay)

Cast

John Rhys-Davies (Raiders of the Lost Ark)
Richard Brake (Barbarian)
Michael Yare (Morgan)
Elena Delia (The Alienist)
David Pearse (The Banshees of Inisherin)

Plot: A serial killer has been sentenced to death by electric chair in London in the 1890s, but in his final hours, he puts a curse on the prison he is in, and all of those in it.

Runtime: 1 Hour 51 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: The Gates starts when serial killer William Colcott (Brake) gets captured mid-ritual. He has been killing victims in hopes of bringing his wife back to life. This leads to his speedy execution in the first electric chair. Elsewhere, we meet Frederick Ladbroke (Rhys-Davies) and his niece Emma Wickes (Delia) who photograph the dead.

They get called in to photograph William’s body, however, they notice something strange about the photograph. Outside of this life, they are trying to work with a supernatural group. This brings them together when the prison starts having unexplained events happening, as Lucian Abberton (Yare) looks to rid the prison of an evil presence.

Verdict on The Gates

The Gates is a horror movie following the disturbing aftermath of a serial killer’s execution. Paranormal investigator teams up with inventors as they look to stop the evil spirit of the serial killer. One that has continued to kill from beyond the grave.

This horror movie gets to dive into early concepts for detecting and fighting spirits. We are taken back to the 1890s when the first ideas would get used and everyone is on a learning curve. The idea of a serial killer returning from beyond the grave to continue their work is fascinating to see. We have previously seen this in The Frighteners, however, this offers something fresh.

The movie has a strong cast that all shine with John Rhys-Davies, Michael Yare and Elena Delia. However, Richard Brake’s dark delivery of the serial killer William Colcott keeps us on edge. This movie also feels like it wants to create a series following Lucian, Frederick and Emma dealing with other paranormal threats.

Where to Watch: The Gates is Released on digital 3 July 2023

Final Thoughts – The Gates Is filled with suspense and gives us an interesting journey into early paranormal hunting.