Directed by Lucio Fulci
Review by David Carter


Released by Severin Films
Running Time: 87 minutes
Rating: Not Rated
Color format: Color
Audio/Subtitles: 2.0 Mono English
Region Code: 1, NTSC
Aspect Ratio: Widescreen
16:9 Enhanced: No
Special Features: None
Trailer Online: No


Short Version: The Italian maestro’s final film

Coming a year after his autobiographical CAT IN THE BRAIN, DOOR INTO SILENCE was Lucio Fulci’s final film. Unlike that gore drenched work, DOOR INTO SILENCE was a bit of a departure for the “Godfather of Gore” in that it was a psychological thriller. There’s not a single drop of blood in the film. It isn’t one of Fulci’s best but should serve as ample proof that the maestro did not need to rely on blood and guts to make an effective and terrifying film.

Melvin Devereux is a Louisiana real estate agent who has traveled to New Orleans for his father’s funeral. Two strange events happen to him as he is leaving the cemetery. The first is when an attractive woman in a red car greets him but doesn’t tell Melvin where they’ve met before. Melvin believes he sees his deceased father soon thereafter, but shakes it off as simply being too tired. He’s slightly unnerved by the two incidents but continues on his way to the remote town of Abbeville, located about three hours from New Orleans.

The universe seems to be conspiring against Melvin and his journey to Abbeville receives many setbacks from road closings, car trouble and a mysterious hearse that is persistently in his way. No matter how fast he goes, the hearse matches his speed and refuses to let him pass. To make matters even more bizarre, the cadaver in the back of the hearse is also named Melvin Devereux. Frenzied, Melvin abandons his trip to Abbeville and begins pursuing the hearse across the back roads of Louisiana in an effort to get to the bottom of the mystery.

DOOR INTO SILENCE features some of Fulci’s best directing, largely based on the fact that he’s doing so much with so little. Practically ninety percent of the film is Melvin (John Savage) driving through the more desolate areas of Louisiana alone in almost real time. There is little dialogue in the film and in only a few scenes is Melvin joined on screen by another character. Fulci manages to make the simple act of this man driving engaging; turning the crossing of a rickety bridge into a suspense-filled scene on par with his more notable works. Fulci uses a deliberately slow pace but one that moves along frequently enough to keep viewers drawn to the story. At times it feels like a travelogue for the Louisiana backwoods but you’ll find it hard to not become engrossed in the film all the same. The film is helped greatly by a very believable performance by Savage as Melvin, who runs the gamut of emotions in the film from rage to terror to resignation.

Unfortunately the visual suspense that Fulci delivers is not matched by the narrative suspense of the script. Most viewers will figure out the “twist” of the film at the same time I did -- around the eleven-minute mark. There won’t be any surprises but the film is more about the journey towards that inevitable conclusion rather than the shock you’re supposed to feel when you reach it.

Severin’s print of DOOR INTO SILENCE looks okay for the most part but comes on a barebones DVD. Any Fulci fan will want to immediately make this part of their collection. Again, it certainly isn’t on par with ZOMBIE 2 or THE BEYOND, but it is an effective film nonetheless. It is interesting to see Fulci working with such restraint and it will have you guessing about what could have been had he lived to make more films.