User Reviews

Someone said "hold my beer". This was the worst movie out of the series. Everything was rushed and watered down. There was no significant character development. They completely skipped Annie living with Fanny and Luke which was pretty important to the story of Annie and Luke's relationship. They also failed to include Annie's relationship with Troy develope and it was a complete climatic let down to anyone who has read the books. I really wish they would stop butchering these amazing stories.

After the hysterical failures that were the first 3 films in this mournful series, it was a miracle that I, or anyone would still be around for part IV. Prepared for another hilarious train wreck, I was shocked to find that "Gates of Paradise" is worlds better than anything that came before it, on so many levels. It becomes apparent almost immediately that the acting in this one is actually professional, and doesn't feel like watching a high school play. It's a miracle. The actress who plays Annie offers a realistic, natural performance, and she doesn't appear "embarrassed" to be involved in this project. Everything here is new and unfamiliar to anyone following the series, but only for the first few moments. Soon we accept the older versions of Heaven and the rest, mainly because these actors are SO much better than the ones they replaced. We are also introduced to the teenage version of Luke Jr. played by Keenan Tracey, who is so immensely likable, and genuinely attractive, and after looking at the lifeless, pasty faced Logan and Tom in the previous installments, seeing an actual flesh and blood, sexy male lead is very refreshing. Luke's character, although not given enough screen time, is very pivotal to the story, as the connection of the two siblings, half brother and sister Annie & Luke, is the heart of this movie. And the threat that history will repeat itself for this new generation of Casteels, is the real draw to the entire story. Once Annie is ensconced within the formidable walls of Farthingale Manor, "Gates of Paradise" really takes off. Jason Priestley is back as an older Tony, and his performance here is astoundingly improved from the earlier movies, where he made an absolute fool of himself. It seems like the (obviously more competent) new director cared enough about this project to pull ol' Jason aside and direct him to tone down his jerky, spastic performance as the evil, creepy Tony, which is exactly what directors are SUPPOSED to do; DIRECT their actors. This time Priestley nails it, and Tony Tatterton goes from being a joke, to becoming a genuinely sick and controlling sociopath. Honestly I have never seen a performer redeem himself so effectively before. And while on the subject of sick and controlling sociopaths.....two words; Daphne. Zuniga. Wow, what a delight it was seeing the return of Zuniga, a staple of many 80's cult classics like "The Sure Thing' and "Modern Girls," as the evil Nurse Broadfield! Rivaling Louise Fletcher's evil Grandmother in the original "Flowers in the Attic," Zuniga appeared to be having a blast playing this venomous "angel of death,' violently harpooning Annie with the giant hypodermic, and at one point lacing her food with a laxative and then HIDING HER WHEELCHAIR, just to "teach her a lesson." Yes, the heroine of "Gates of Paradise" is actually confined to a wheelchair throughout the film's running time, and this makes everything all the more terrifying for this girl, as she is completely at the mercy of some very sinister people while having no idea what is going on! I also need to mention how nice it was to see the character of 'Rye Whiskey' make an appearance, after being totally forgotten from the other movies. Best of all, this movie even offers a perfectly satisfying "final scene," concerning Annie and Luke,' that is so sweet and quite beautiful, and made the task of sitting through the first awful three movies, worth the effort. Out of the darkness and into the light, like Dante's Trilogy through Hell, and Purgatory, and emerging...in Paradise; hence the title, "Gates of Paradise." This might sound like quite an exagerated description of a Lifetime movie, but it's the only way i can describe how much fun I had watching this thrilling little horror drama, and what a complete surprise it was, considering everything that came before it. "Gates of Paradise" is the first movie based on a V.C. Andrews book that succeeded in actually feeling like it's source material. In fact, this one is a bit reminiscent of "Flowers In the Attic,' with Annie being similar to Cathy, locked in the attic, at the mercy of the Grandmother, here replaced by the equally cruel and formidable nurse. Whether the prison is an attic, or a wheelchair, that sense of hopeless lack of control is still there. Yeah, this is the BEST of the series, and i have renewed hope for "Web of Dreams."