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NEXT DOOR is a version of the classic
nightmare: One day you discover a door next to yours,
and when you enter you find a world where normal rules
no longer apply. You are both drawn to and repelled by
what you discover. You find yourself in a world where
you must face up to your innermost fears. It is
simultaneously the most
enticing and the most frightening thing you have ever
experienced.
NEXT DOOR is a journey to that most
secret place on Earth, deep inside yourself. I have
always been interested in how our mind works. How much
pressure can the mind handle? How do we manage to
incorporate experiences we don’t consider ourselves
capable of doing, into a new self image?
NEXT DOOR is a film about denial,
shame, and crossing boundaries. |
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Adrian Wootton:
"This is a chilling thriller about how one man
descends into madness where he cannot distinguish dream
and reality because he has committed a terrible act that
shatters his sanity. Sletaune cleverly builds up tension
and increases our sense of claustrophobic unease by
focusing all the action on a labyrinthine apartment,
where the leading character gets lost in a terrifying
and violent web of fantasy. With nods to Hitchcock and
De Palma, particularly in the brilliant use of sound
effects and an orchestral score, Next Door is
very high quality filmmaking and a roller coaster ride
that you are unlikely to forget."
Jon Selås, Verdens Gang
Rating: 6 out of 6
"Sinister delving into the human mind in a borderline
horror movie. The direction is wonderfully planned and
implemented. And Kristoffer Joner has never been better.
The acting, the photography, the sound, the scenography
and not least! the music, flows up or down in
manipulative unison. Brilliant! With quaking nerves we
are forced to admit: This is superb. Nothing less!"
Mode Steinkjer, Dagsavisen
Rating: 5 out of 6
"Frightening and psychotic thriller from the director of
Junk Mail Although powerful muscles to be
compared against, this claustrophobic, sexually charged
piece is reminiscent of Polanski; the metastructural
peeping Tom element, for both John and the viewing
audience, brings Hitchcock to mind; and the cooped up,
violent, and sexually ambiguous passion is totally
Lynch. Let it be known that this inspiration is only
perceptible, and cannot be directly measured, and
Sletaune gets away with a film that by all means has its
own signature."
Inger Bentzrud, Dagbladet
Rating: 5 out of 6
"Intelligent thriller with powerful scenes. Pål
Sletaune’s new film Next Door is a fairly
uncomfortable experience. A psychological thriller that
increasingly gains the character of a real horror film,
and crawls uncomfortably under your skin. It’s creepy
because we are here dealing with a smart horror film.
You don’t quite understand what is going on. The aspect
of time has been torn apart, the lines between reality,
fantasy, dreams, and hallucination have also been
erased. Apparently the film is about being invaded, and
this sense of claustrophobic closeness is effectively
augmented by Jack von Domburg’s scenography. Dark green
silk-like walls close 'normal' life out. Inhospitable,
brownish hallways seem as endless as deep caves. In
Next Door you recognize the atmosphere of David
Lynch, and associations to Hitchcock’s The Birds
at a certain point. But this film is consistently
original and 'different'."
Astrid Kolbjørnsen, Bergens Tidende
Rating: 5 out of 6
"A real, shuddering, classic psychological thriller.
Perfect in its genre. A perfect idea. Perfectly
accomplished in the most claustrophobic of environments,
where neither elevator, long, spooky hallways, nor
sombre colors are missing. Sletaune has shown that he
masters breadth in his repertoire and deserves kudos for
this great artistic comeback." |
