Door Into Silence (1991)
Studio: Severin 
Theatrical Release: December 1991 (Italy)
DVD Release: July 14, 2009
Director: Lucio Fulci
Not Rated
Review by James Klein
Door Into Silence was Lucio Fulci's final film before he passed away in 1996. During the opening credits, the director is listed as H. Simon Kittay and his writing credit is listed as Jerry Madison. I cannot find any information as to why Fulci took his name off the film and added these pseudonyms. The only reasoning I can think of is because Door Into Silence is terrible. Aside from Fulci's typical zooms, one couldn't tell that the man responsible for such horror classics like Zombi and The Beyond wrote and directed this "thriller". If you are even thrilled by this movie, seek help.
John Savage stars as Melvin Devereux, a middle aged real estate salesman who is visiting his father's grave site. As Melvin is leaving he runs into a beautiful but mysterious woman who claims she knows him but doesn't really tell him much more. When Melvin asks who she is, she avoids the question and discusses how she is fascinated with him. Once Melvin drives away, he begins to have these strange hallucinations or something to that extent. One can't really tell what is happening as Melvin just looks confused and lost (I think Savage must have been too but don't worry, the viewer will soon be lost as well). When the mysterious woman follows him to a hotel where he is going to stay briefly while his car is being fixed, it seems as if he is about to have a one night stand with her but she soon disappears on him. She leaves a cryptic message on the mirror in red lipstick for him to find. Wow, spooky.
Once Melvin's car is fixed, most of the film has Melvin driving to whatever destination he was bound to go (it is never explained) with strange occurrences happening like a black hearse that may have a body inside that he believes he may know. As the film slowly peters along and one weird occurrence happens after another such as some pretty young hitchhiker who tries to seduce Melvin for a ride or Melvin confronting the man driving the hearse (a scene ripped off of Duel) the viewer has to be an idiot to not know where the film is headed. If one is even remotely surprised by the twist ending, you must not have seen an episode of Twilight Zone or are just plain retarded.
I had never even heard of Door Into Silence until I got this movie to review. There is a reason why this is one of Fulci's most forgotten films. The movie lacks any excitement, wit or coherence with a very bored John Savage barely walking (or driving) through his scenes. There are many scenes that are edited horribly too. One second Melvin is in the woods and then the film jumps back to Melvin in his car. Huh? Did we miss something? What is an even more surprising is the talent behind this film. Fulci is the master of shock, Savage is an excellent actor, the great Joe D'Amato (director of Buried Alive and some of the "black Emmanuelle" movies) produced and even Black Emmanuelle herself, Laura Gemser did the costumes. But clocking in at 87 minutes and feeling more like 187 minutes, Door Into Silence is a complete bore. Even the title doesn't make sense.
Severin's DVD doesn't fair much better as the movie doesn't have one single special feature, not even a trailer. The picture quality looks like it was recorded off an old VHS tape. I really can't think of anything positive to say about this movie so I'll just wrap it up.
[rating: 1]
Theatrical Release: December 1991 (Italy)
DVD Release: July 14, 2009
Director: Lucio Fulci
Not Rated
Review by James Klein
Door Into Silence was Lucio Fulci's final film before he passed away in 1996. During the opening credits, the director is listed as H. Simon Kittay and his writing credit is listed as Jerry Madison. I cannot find any information as to why Fulci took his name off the film and added these pseudonyms. The only reasoning I can think of is because Door Into Silence is terrible. Aside from Fulci's typical zooms, one couldn't tell that the man responsible for such horror classics like Zombi and The Beyond wrote and directed this "thriller". If you are even thrilled by this movie, seek help.
John Savage stars as Melvin Devereux, a middle aged real estate salesman who is visiting his father's grave site. As Melvin is leaving he runs into a beautiful but mysterious woman who claims she knows him but doesn't really tell him much more. When Melvin asks who she is, she avoids the question and discusses how she is fascinated with him. Once Melvin drives away, he begins to have these strange hallucinations or something to that extent. One can't really tell what is happening as Melvin just looks confused and lost (I think Savage must have been too but don't worry, the viewer will soon be lost as well). When the mysterious woman follows him to a hotel where he is going to stay briefly while his car is being fixed, it seems as if he is about to have a one night stand with her but she soon disappears on him. She leaves a cryptic message on the mirror in red lipstick for him to find. Wow, spooky.
Once Melvin's car is fixed, most of the film has Melvin driving to whatever destination he was bound to go (it is never explained) with strange occurrences happening like a black hearse that may have a body inside that he believes he may know. As the film slowly peters along and one weird occurrence happens after another such as some pretty young hitchhiker who tries to seduce Melvin for a ride or Melvin confronting the man driving the hearse (a scene ripped off of Duel) the viewer has to be an idiot to not know where the film is headed. If one is even remotely surprised by the twist ending, you must not have seen an episode of Twilight Zone or are just plain retarded.
I had never even heard of Door Into Silence until I got this movie to review. There is a reason why this is one of Fulci's most forgotten films. The movie lacks any excitement, wit or coherence with a very bored John Savage barely walking (or driving) through his scenes. There are many scenes that are edited horribly too. One second Melvin is in the woods and then the film jumps back to Melvin in his car. Huh? Did we miss something? What is an even more surprising is the talent behind this film. Fulci is the master of shock, Savage is an excellent actor, the great Joe D'Amato (director of Buried Alive and some of the "black Emmanuelle" movies) produced and even Black Emmanuelle herself, Laura Gemser did the costumes. But clocking in at 87 minutes and feeling more like 187 minutes, Door Into Silence is a complete bore. Even the title doesn't make sense.
Severin's DVD doesn't fair much better as the movie doesn't have one single special feature, not even a trailer. The picture quality looks like it was recorded off an old VHS tape. I really can't think of anything positive to say about this movie so I'll just wrap it up.
[rating: 1]
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