Movie Review: The Gate (1987)

★★★★★

The Gate freaked me out as a kid in the best way. Tiny demons, backyard rituals, total '80s horror fun.

Troy K.

Iowa

Some horror movies hit you with gore, others with jump scares. The Gate hits you with something different: a creeping, fairy-tale dread wrapped in the safety of suburbia and then rips that safety to shreds.

Rewatching it for BoxReview.com, I was surprised by how well it still works, not just as a horror film but as a story about friendship, growing up, and facing fears that feel much bigger than you.

The Premise: Heavy Metal + Backyard Hellmouth

The film follows Glen (Stephen Dorff, in his film debut) and his best friend Terry (Louis Tripp), two suburban kids who stumble on a geode in Glen’s backyard after a tree is uprooted. Cracking it open unleashes strange phenomena, and when they unknowingly recite incantations from a heavy metal album (because, of course, they do), they open a literal gate to a demonic underworld.

Things escalate from strange noises to full-blown supernatural chaos, tiny demons, melting walls, and surreal hallucinations, all while Glen’s parents are conveniently away for the weekend.

Stephen Dorff as Glen: The Reluctant Hero

It’s easy to forget this was Dorff’s first film role. He plays Glen with a natural mix of curiosity and vulnerability, making him a believable suburban kid rather than a polished “movie child.”

What stands out on rewatch is how the film treats Glen seriously; he’s not comic relief, and he’s not magically wise beyond his years. He’s a kid who’s scared, makes mistakes, and has to rise to the occasion when things spiral out of control.

Louis Tripp as Terry: The Metalhead with a Mythology Obsession

Terry is one of the most interesting “best friend” characters in ‘80s horror. He’s a little odd, obsessed with heavy metal, and carries the emotional weight of losing his mother. This backstory adds surprising depth to his fascination with the dark, arcane details hidden in album art and liner notes.

Many reviews gloss over how crucial Terry is without his encyclopedic (if slightly misguided) knowledge of occult lore; they wouldn’t even realize what they’re up against.

Christa Denton as Al: The Older Sister with an Arc

Older sister Al starts the film as the classic slightly-annoyed sibling, more interested in her social life than babysitting. But as the situation worsens, she becomes an active player in the fight against the demons.

It’s refreshing for a film of this era to give the older sister a real arc; she’s not just a damsel in distress; she’s part of the problem-solving team.

The Real Stars: Practical Effects and Creature Design

This is where The Gate truly shines. Every creature, hallucination, and nightmare sequence is done with practical effects, forced perspective, stop-motion animation, and prosthetics.

The tiny demons, portrayed by actors in rubber suits filmed against scaled-up sets, are still creepy because they feel real. You can tell they’re physically there, interacting with the actors, which gives them weight that CGI can’t replicate.

There’s also a fantastic “dead workman in the wall” sequence, a genuinely unnerving set piece that feels like something out of a twisted urban legend.

Underappreciated Element: Tone

The Gate walks a tricky line between being scary for kids and being too intense for them. It’s rated PG-13, but the imagery pushes the boundary, disintegrating bodies, eyes in palms, and a climactic monster that’s pure Lovecraftian nightmare fuel.

Yet, it never feels mean-spirited. The scares are balanced with a sense of wonder and adventure, almost like The Goonies crossed with Evil Dead.

Sound Design and Atmosphere

The film’s sound design is a big part of its unsettling vibe. Whispering voices, distorted growls, and an eerie score by Michael Hoenig (of Tangerine Dream fame) give the supernatural elements a weirdly hypnotic quality.

The music never tries to be overbearing; it’s used to blur the line between reality and hallucination, making the audience question what’s actually happening.

Suburban Horror Done Right

A lot of ‘80s horror took place in the suburbs, but The Gate stands out because it uses the setting to make the supernatural elements feel wrong. The neatly trimmed lawns, the tidy houses, they’re all still there while demons pour out of a hole in the backyard. It’s a visual reminder that horror can strike anywhere, even the safest-feeling places.

Themes That Sneak Up on You

Beneath the demons and effects, The Gate has a few themes worth noting:

• Curiosity and Consequence: Glen and Terry’s fascination with the strange is relatable, but it’s also what gets them into trouble.

• Grief and Isolation: Terry’s loss of his mother subtly influences his interest in the occult, as if he’s searching for a way to bridge the gap between worlds.

• Responsibility: All three kids have to step up without adult help, reinforcing that coming-of-age thread common in the best ‘80s adventure-horror films.

Why The Gate Still Works Today

The mix of practical effects, relatable kid protagonists, and creative monster design gives The Gate a staying power that many bigger-budget horror films from the era lack. It’s also paced just right, there’s no fat, no drawn-out exposition, just a steady build from curiosity to chaos.

Plus, it’s one of the rare horror films where you can feel the filmmakers having fun with the material without it slipping into parody.

Final Thoughts

The Gate is a perfect gateway horror film, scary enough to thrill seasoned fans, but accessible enough for younger viewers dipping their toes into the genre. The performances are earnest, the effects are top-tier, and the suburban setting makes the supernatural chaos hit even harder.

If you grew up in the ‘80s, it’s a nostalgic treat. If you didn’t, it’s still a creative, creepy, and surprisingly heartfelt horror gem that proves you don’t need CGI or endless jump scares to make an audience squirm.