Kids left home alone accidentally unleash a horde of malevolent demons from a mysterious hole in their suburban backyard.Kids left home alone accidentally unleash a horde of malevolent demons from a mysterious hole in their suburban backyard.Kids left home alone accidentally unleash a horde of malevolent demons from a mysterious hole in their suburban backyard.
- Awards
- 2 wins & 2 nominations
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe logo on the back of Terry's jacket is that of the Killer Dwarfs, a heavy metal band from the Toronto, Ontario area who were known for their offbeat sense of humor.
- GoofsWhen Glen is descending the crumbling staircase there is a brief shot of his legs searching for a foothold. The legs are clearly those of a female stunt double.
- Quotes
Terrence 'Terry' Chandler: May the old devils depart! May they burn in the fires of their own damnation! May they freeze in the infinite golden darkness of their own hideous creation!
Glen: Isn't that kind of insulting?
Terrence 'Terry' Chandler: I guess it's supposed to be. I mean, we're trying to get rid of them.
- ConnectionsFeatured in The Making of 'The Gate' (1987)
Featured review
Considering the large debt it owes to 'Poltergeist', this Canadian horror film stacks up remarkably well to repeat viewings with a similar plot about a house where odd things begin happening after forces are inadvertently summoned from below. One thing that really works in 'The Gate''s favour is the lack of adults with the film instead focusing on two young boys and a teenage sister warding off demons and goblins and protecting their family home while their parents are away on vacation. Their experiences give the brother and a sister a chance to really bond for the first time as well as wrestle with the responsibilities of adulthood, left in charge of the house and expected to take care of it. The best aspect of the film though is unquestionably the special effects; the film achieves a refreshingly different sort of creepiness by having tiny demons to fend off as opposed to more traditional large and ferocious monsters. Sequences in which a human head falls off and smashes and in which the boy discovers an eye inside the palm of his hand are very well done too. It is not a particularly frightening film, with many scenes that feel as if they have been toned down to achieve the film's PG-13 rating, but it is unsettling to watch all the same, full of moments (Louis Tripp realising he is holding the dog) that are still effective even when one knows that they are coming.
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Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Gate - Die Unterirdischen
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- CA$2,500,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $13,539,458
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $4,258,063
- May 17, 1987
- Gross worldwide
- $13,539,458
- Runtime1 hour 25 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1(original ratio, open matte)
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