“Something’s not right in this place.”
Story: Four college students try to figure out what’s going on with a strange book left in the office of professor Zandor, who’s gone missing. Meanwhile, the professor’s brother Amos is trying to bring Zandor back. But first, he’s gonna need a lot of hearts.
Scares: Only for the lightest of touches.
Splat Factor: Lots of well done red stuff for such a low budget flick.
Subgenre: Z Grade Horrors
Year Released: 2026
Remake, Sequel or OG (Original Ghoul)?: Original, but uses Lovecraft mythology as a jumping off point.
Trick or Treat?: Gateway is a perfect example of bare bones budget filmmaking. Sure, there’s a lot to goof on here, as with any empty wallet productions. While this is a messy story that barely holds together, I couldn’t help but be impressed with what the creators achieved with pocket lint and a dream.
Shot on a budget of 7k, side-by-side with another film, most likely The Gateway: Destination Hell, which is still in post-production. Nice shots of bloody aftermaths that hark back to Giallo; somebody loves Suspiria. But the blue day-for-night filter gives Forks University rather than Miskatonic. Luckily, unlike Twilight, even though it grates after a while, it’s not used throughout. Surprisingly well done gore FX help make the film look better than it has any right to.
Unfortunately, the story is a confusing hodgepodge that doesn’t seem to want viewers to understand what’s going on. There’s a book (obviously the Necronomicon, though I don’t know why they didn’t just say that), a portal, a guy who wants to bring his brother back from death because reasons, and a woman who’s helping him because why not. One more draft would have done wonders for this screenplay. But perhaps their schedule was just as stretched thin as their budget.
As with other low budget films, not everything is polished. Having a human dissection on what looks like a teacher’s desk in a regular classroom. (And human dissection is part of basic anatomy? Damn y’all.) 80s level nudity including a scene where a nude girl writhes on a bed for several minutes. Naturally, things don’t go as she’d planned after the blindfold goes on. These bits tread the line between cringe and fun, and gotta admit I was leaning towards fun every time. Gateway is definitely for the low budget lovers who can have fun and ride the chaos.
Yeah, it’s not award worthy. But if you’re walking into this one expecting Obsession or Backrooms? You need to get a grip. I can’t help be be amazed at what the creators brought to life here. McConville, you’ve earned my respect. Looking forward to seeing what you’ve got when a bigger budget drops into your lap.
Score: 2 out of 5 pumpkins. While I’d give this a 5/5 for gumption alone? As a film, it’s too choppy to get anything higher.
