User Reviews

This is an effective, minimalist horror short: one location, a few characters, zero exposition... and yet it's scarier than most mainstream releases. Director Paul Taylor does a masterful job and Gemma Whelan (Game of Thrones' Yara Greyjoy) is convincingly terrified in the lead role.

Now I read Hollywood has bought the rights and wants to make a full feature film. What's the point? This is a very basic premise, perfect for a nine minutes short. It's like stretching a single funny joke into a two hours comedy. The here unnamed protagonist doesn't need a sad backstory, a sardonic best friend, a jerk ex-boyfriend or a hunky neighbour love interest. She doesn't need to go browse on the internet for old Romanian legends about blue doors.

This is perfect as it is, a scary horror short which doesn't overstay its welcome. Kudos to the poster, a clear homage to the works of the great Saul Bass.

The first gift is the presence and the beautiful performance of Gemma Whelan. I know, too much GoT.... But she does a splendid performance. The second present - the tatoo of old lady. The minimalist, too. And the latch, off course. But the most significant detail - it is a real well crafted horror. Without easy solutions or pretextes for thrill. Its realism, the steps of storytelling, the gestures, the door - reminding old fairy tales- , the end are real good points. So, many gifts. Not only for the fans of genre.