User Reviews

I like this short. Some parts were very good and I like the nice cinematography with little moments that make you wonder what will happen next. It's atmospheric, but at the end I thought that there would be more between the couple. It's like a silent film with not much dialogue between the characters. Still, this is a quality short. The others I saw were more student quality films or animation. There are not many shorts that have a good story to tell but this one was quite different. Some parts when the woman was sleeping, it was hard to tell what was real. I did like the two main characters. They look like they had had their house robbed. Then I thought maybe she was losing her mind, some things were unclear. Their relationship seems at an end, like one of them will split. It's quite emotional and I felt sad at the end. The crash made me jump. If I had known they were in a crash I would've had more sympathy for them in the beginning.

I'm trying to understand the different ideas in this short but I love it! It really got me thinking.

Great little movie, what did it all mean? Okay, if I don't quite get a movie, like for example, some of David Lynch's films, then I am frustrated but I still love watching them. But I think so long as there are meanings to be found then it is fun to interpret. If it's just a wild goose chase then it's just futile. This short was like a great slice of a bigger movie. It is not a movie with a problem-solving message, but a brief journey where a viewer can interpret what they want to make of things. A bit like in real life. The director seems to like creating an atmosphere more than to developing sub-plots within a story. I felt like I was expected to come up with the story myself! One the surface, the story events are clear, but because of the order that they had been shown, my mind started trying to work out, Who, What, When, etc. Most importantly, 'Why?'. There definitely had to be a point with this one. But I was damned if I couldn't work it out. But every time I came up with different scenarios, it just compounded in more confusion.

I started thinking about the possible meanings for the story. A story about a mentally ill woman being tortured and disturbed by her husband. A story about two ghosts who don't seem to leave the house, too much like 'The Others'. A story about a couple who after a car accident, have neglected their physical relationship, her eyes are damaged, hence the blindness, etc, he seems to want to leave – she doesn't want him to go. Then I thought about 'Das wee Rauschen', and 'Beautiful Mind' and other movies involving strange scenes of madness, 'Jacobs Ladder' Fantastic Movies with Weird shots that make you wonder about what will happen next. Then I looked at other films involving blind people, but I hadn't seen anything done quite like this before. I think this movie is not a presentation of mental illness, or blindness but the view of the main characters are so different that it must be the principle of the narrative. I must admit not being able to see this film more than twice, but the second time I watched, I had a very different view of what it meant to me. It's like a blind perspective being presented, which means that the subjective perception of the character becomes the objective reality. It reminded me a little of surrealistic literature like Franz Kafka's 'Die Verwandlung'. With movies which refer to mental illness, or dreaming: No character ever seems to care about the changes of the view of the events (just like in dreams). Could the movie be one long dream? No, that's too obvious. How could it be? It was suggested to me by my partner that she was in a coma after the accident and that her husband was coming back to wake her up and come back to him. Coma or Ghost dream, (Interesting question – If Ghosts and Spirits do exist – Do They Dream? But with her state of mind or limbo period and these metaphysical suggestions, I just felt they were just a bit too obscure. They are presented in an interesting way but because there are no definite points at which the storyteller points you in the direction of his opinion, you just start thinking about red-herrings and possible plot twists. I guess the second time I just checked it without trying to work it out and that's why I was able to see things in a different way. I do want to know what caused the accident. His wife doesn't appear insane. She just seems sad and angry at her husband. Possibly he neglected her and he doesn't understand her illness. I though it was agoraphobia at some points, and after a while I thought, well, if she can see a certain images in flashbacks or dreams, or seems to be aware of what's happening, obviously there is something wrong with her as she's remembering shocking things from the past. My girlfriend was convinced it was her premonition of the future accident, and that he was trying to leave the house with her, but every day she was trying to avoid them getting into a car. She almost always sees her surroundings and environment as threatening, and she does question it when she is dreaming or in an indeterminate state. But he doesn't! He acts with such a matter of course. He wants to leave. I have to ask whether she is self-deceiving. Maybe you don't have to ask yourself how far you are able to understand the message. I still enjoyed regardless. But still, I think I do ask which message can we accept. And anyhow, If I understood it more, would I enjoy it more? Whether they are both dead, or she is in a coma, or mentally ill, or if we believe in heaven or hell, something or nothing in the afterlife, I think it's something that will have me thinking for a long time to come.

I thought it was the best short film I'd ever seen, the story, unique style and performances were first rate. Door Out of the Dark is a brilliant film. I watched it twice in Cannes and enjoyed it even more the second time. It was really entertaining and deeply moving. I felt it was mostly about leaving the past where it belongs but also about what we don't see in front of us. But one of my friends said that for her, it was simply about the beginning and end of a relationship. This story is a little gem, beautifully atmospheric, daring, emotional and well directed. I loved the performances, especially from Claire Murphy. It reminded me of a little of Alice in Wonderland. I do wish it had been longer and it was a lot darker than I expected it to be and I kept thinking about it after. There was no rest from the way it grips you, no humour or points to wonder what happened in their relationship. I kind of predicted the ending but was crying at the same time. It kind of deals with the matter of being spiritually asleep versus being spiritually awake. So, as you watch the film, you are left to wonder which parts of the story are real, and which are dreams. I want to watch it again!

It was good but I was confused. But I liked its great style of storytelling. I think a film can only be truly enjoyed if you like its story. Door out of the Dark succeeds with its complex meanings in making you question everything.

After a first viewing, you'll be confused. Second time I got more from it but there was less suspense obviously having seen the accident. But it was so meaningful. I didn't really think it had a great budget but few short films do - I guess that is why they are short films otherwise they would be features...

The characters emotions are perfectly presented; you feel his pain, frustration, and sadness with her and yet still feel for her condition. I thought the acting was great; I completely forgot about them acting and was impressed by the story and its atmosphere.

The music does a wonderful job of making you feel how powerful these things are and how they have an effect on people, while the style is often quiet and under the surface, just like the hidden meanings. I believe it's about her coming out of a coma. In terms of the Door to light in this darkness, metaphor doesn't quite feel the right word to describe the light or darkness. While there are lots of things light is like -- Heaven, Darkness - like Hell, the Afterlife, a ghost town, Utopia, Oz, any comparisons the viewer draws are based on how one interprets the imagery and events of the scene. I recommend this to those who likes a tear jerker film. All in all this film was tremendous and moving. I hear it may be at other festivals so check it out.

This is a short film about of a couple experiencing damaging effects on their relationship after a car crash. Her partner tries to get her to go outdoors again but she gets flash-backs from the pain she endured. A simple story I thought, but there is more to this film than meets the eye.

*Possible Spoilers* There are a few loose ends. For one, we never find out what caused the car crash and also she can see when she dreams so I imagine she could see before the accident. She can't be lying to him about her condition as we see her point of view occasionally. She looks in denial about what happened but her husband is the one feeling the guilt. Also the angels are more like ordinary people; I think they are meant to seen as if they could exist among us. Either that or the budget did not allow for much more.

Also, she did not 'endure' the pain, her body gave out and she died. Or then again, if time stopped for her while she was in a coma then when do we see her in hospital?

I see several potential answers to this story. She died and her husband came back to get her to come with him to heaven. Or, she's in a coma and that's why she's dreaming and she can see sometimes and sometimes she can't. Or, if they are both dead throughout the film but he is waiting for her to come to terms with her own death – sounds too far fetched. In this case she could still be in a coma and he could be waiting for her to pass to the other side. Or the other more obvious answer would be that she's in a limbo period, which you might say is the same but then, that would mean it all becomes supernatural. And if not then the voices were in her coma dream, like weird sounds from nightmares. Whichever the case, it is highly watchable but after it will be of interest to many to try and guess what it all means. It can't just be seen as a story about a couple dealing with relationship problems or post traumatic stress as there are too many things in the story which appear ghostly or too weird to be an ordinary drama.

I know it is more romantic to think of the 'coma' story but I think that's what made me cry. It didn't seem that sad at first and then I thought about it some more towards the end. I think he is waiting beside her all that time but she never wakes up from the coma and as she sleeps, she dreams about meeting him again.

It was really well directed, with impressive performances from the main cast. The first few minutes build up slowly but and then moves into full swing. Some of the scenes are shockingly good especially when she remembers the accident and then the whole crash at the end. It is a well made film and is definitely one that shows a powerful message. I would urge those who drive too fast to watch this. This short also deals with recognizable yet overlooked matters. Other things in the film are more down to interpretation, but I think as people can relate, it is a job well done.

I thought is was powerful and moving, but it will not be for the faint hearted. Some of the scenes might be difficult for some to watch. It was not that horrific but it left an impression in my mind that lingered for long after. Well worth seeing.

A fascinating, emotionally charged film. It was right on the money for me. It presents different views on love, relationships and acceptance. I wasn't in the mood to watch it but then I was compelled to see it till the end. It's stunning. I love the way the characters remember without wanting to and the subtle changes in mood. I wanted to see some more of their relationship in the early stages though. The acting was great and the way things make sense at the end with the sounds and images repeating was great. Sublime story, great style, terrific performances and music. Even though I wanted more I have to give it a 10, it's just up there with all the films I like and I really was taken by surprise. I wasn't expecting it to have such an effect on me.