Dressed in a suit, the muttonchops bedecked Todd Transona (Bilal Mir) sits at his desk in a sparsely decorated office of wooden paneling. A red door off to the side is the room's only glimpse of color. Prepared with nothing more than a hand-held recorder, Todd recites every minor thought and action into the device. He receives a call about some ongoing skirmish, and we find out there are some sort of bombing attacks going on, and Todd is urged to stay put. Todd makes mention of the red door, but apparently no one knows what's held behind as the door is protected by a padlock.
Through a flashback we see Todd being interviewed for his current position, by Charlotte Reverie, played by low budget genre actress Tiffany Shepis. Todd has been hired to protect the west division office. When Todd signs the contract for the new job, Charlotte turns demon-esquire -- bleeding from her mouth and face -- and the contract appears to be written in blood. Is this a deal with the devil perhaps? What lies behind the red door? Hell? In the words of Todd Transona: "Is there darkness behind that door or salvation?"
Red Door, directed by David Pike is a beautifully shot piece, and Pike really showcases an impressive directorial style. However, even with the film's opening quotation, the film still might appear too ambiguous for its own good. The viewer is entered into an absorbing world but some viewers will find themselves never really knowing what is going on or what the symbology actually means. During Todd's interview we find out about his past. Todd's wife Karen was murdered, the murderer was never found. Todd, while drunk on the job passed out with a lit cigarette and burnt down the office. His doctor also advised him to use the tape recorder. Some viewers might find themselves questioning what significance this all plays. Who killed Todd's wife? Is Todd the killer? What really is the office? What is behind the red door? What is the significance of the bombings? Is Tiffany Shepis the devil?
Red Door is one of those films that you either comprehend, or you don't. While it works for one person, another might miss the boat entirely. There are going to be people that will really enjoy the open interpretation of Red Door, as I'm sure the director wanted the viewer to deduce Todd's situation for themselves. Others will be left out in the cold wanting more due to the indistinctness of it all. Even though I got the big picture I couldn't help but find myself wanting a more distinct revelation depicted within the film. This film would definitely fare well as a short story. This is a story of a lost man, and perhaps what he seeks is in fact, behind the Red Door
-Severed Cinema
