‘Next/Door’ is a Keeper (Review)

Written by: Matt Molgaard

Directed by: Nathan Suher

Cast: Gio Castellano, David Ryan Kopcych, Lindsey Elisabeth Cork

You’ve got to appreciate an entertaining short film when you find one. And when you do find one, you’ve got to pin it down and it keep it bookmarked. Nathan Suher’s, Next/Door is one of the rare keepers. Just creepy enough to leave viewers double checking the locks, but not so grotesque as to turn off viewers by the masses.

A bachelor hears what sounds like a violent, physical confrontation between his neighbor and her boyfriend. This bachelor, whose name is not immediately made known, decides to invest after her enraged boyfriend hits the road. As it turns out, what our good, friendly neighbor discovers is a woman hanging on to life by the thinnest of fibers. Can this nearby hero save a life before it’s too late, or has fate already filled out the docket?

Well-shot with a reliance on basic camera work are part of what help Nathan Suher’s short to shine. He knows his limitations and he respects the material and the viewer enough to refrain from going overboard in a bid to overcompensate for his general lack of experience. It’s a smart decision to make. Next/Door may not qualify as elite material, but it does qualify as a promising film from a clearly promising filmmaker.

If the night is slow, but you’re winding down and know good and well you won’t make it to see the end of a 90 minute pic, throw on a piece like Next/Door. It’s fast, and it’s a little disturbing, but a fine fit for a fan of horror of all sorts.

Rating: 3/5