The Other Side of the Door 2016

The film opens on the bustling streets of Mumbai, India, where viewers are introduced to a married couple, Maria (Sarah Wayne Callies) and Michael (Jeremy Sisto). During a conversation at a local restaurant, Maria joyfully reveals her pregnancy to Michael. The scene transitions to a picturesque beach where Maria expresses her fondness for their surroundings. Michael proposes the idea of starting their family in Mumbai, to which Maria agrees, feeling optimistic about their future.

However, the tranquility is shattered when a child appears before them, and Michael, speaking in the Marathi language, attempts to engage with him. Unfortunately, the child’s face contorts into a terrifying scream, waking Maria in a panic. Fast forward six years, and we see a different reality. Maria, engulfed in rage, awakens her sleeping husband and has a breakdown due to the aftermath of a profound tragedy that has struck their family, leaving them fractured.

The narrative continues as we learn that Oliver (Logan Creran), their son, has passed away, plunging the family into deep grief. The couple’s struggles are palpable, and as the story unravels, Maria grapples with her overwhelming emotions. The next morning reveals glimpses of Lucy (Sofia Rosinsky), their surviving daughter, and Winston, the family dog, set against the backdrop of a home filled with memories of Oliver.

As the days progress, Michael assures Maria that they will endure their hardships together. But upon Michael’s return from work one evening, he discovers Maria has attempted suicide, a consequence of her unbearable sorrow. The dark memories flood back as she recalls the harrowing car accident that claimed Oliver’s life. The ensuing chaos pushes Michael to call for help, leading to Maria’s hospitalization, where she encounters her doctor, assuring her that recovery is possible.

Maria learns from Piki (a housekeeper and friend) about a potential way to connect with Oliver’s spirit one last time. Piki suggests a tribal ritual involving the dispersal of Oliver’s ashes at an abandoned temple. Driven by desperation, Maria agrees to the plan. As the story unfolds, Maria navigates the ramifications of her actions — digging up her son’s body alongside Piki, which irrevocably leads to a deeper connection with the world of the deceased.

After a haunting journey into the temple at night, Maria experiences visions and feels Oliver’s spirit calling out to her, longing for connection. Ignoring Piki’s warning not to open the door no matter what happens inside, Maria succumbs to Oliver’s plea and unwittingly invites chaos into their lives.

Back at home, strange occurrences unfold. Lucy begins to show alarming signs of Oliver’s influence, and the family dynamic shifts ominously. Maria must confront the reality that her son is becoming a malevolent force in their lives. As her attempts to maintain normalcy unravel, Piki warns Maria that the ritual she partook in has corrupted Oliver’s spirit, enabling him to manipulate both her and Lucy.

With escalating events, tensions reach a boiling point when Maria finds herself in a fight for her family’s safety, ultimately leading to a tragic climax that sees her making the ultimate sacrifice. In a horrifying twist, Maria attempts to save her daughter Lucy from the evil that has taken root within their lives, yet the consequences are dire.

The film culminates in a heart-stopping moment where Michael, unaware of the dark pact, embarks on the same ritual to seek closure for himself. Maria’s screams resonate, warning him not to repeat her mistakes, but fate takes a tragic course as the screen fades to black, leaving the audience with the lingering implications of their choices.

Through heartache and redemption, this haunting tale explores the depths of grief, love, and the thin line separating life from death, making it a profound cinematic experience.