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Title: Next Door (0) Starring: Not available Director: Not available Rating: Unrated Runtime: 76 minutes Avg. Score: 5 Submit Comment Hits: 22

Review of Next Door

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Comments for Next Door

• Posted on 2008-03-04
  How many Norwegian horror films have you seen?
  
  Well for me this is my first and I enjoyed it very much thanks to my Amazonian friends who had already seen this and recommended it to me. As beautiful as the direction and cinematography is this story revolves around the office employees John (Kristopher Joner), whose girlfriend Ingrid (Anna Bache-Wig) is recently separated from him. This has its already fragile psyche another missed kick. His life still revolves entirely to the woman who left him; withdrawn, he now lives alone on the top floor of a tenement house. His tidy, clean, even sterile housing is a desperate held upright on the contrast of dark labyrinth, which is its soul. Suddenly he meets two mysterious neighbors, which he has never noticed, even though they live right next door. When visiting the two women Anne (Cecilie A. Mosli) and Kim (Julia Schacht), a strange interest in having him appear, he loses more and more in the long, winding corridors of his comfortable environment to a sinking nightmare of sex and violence.
  
  This movie's does have one of the most violent and vile consensual sex scene in movie history, containing a beating that only leads to more arousal. It's pretty ailing stuff, and you'll be just as disturbed as John is when he looks in the mirror afterwards, and sees himself covered in his mishap.... that's not all his. It really is an unsettling moment, and probably the defining one of the film. Julia Schacht and Ceclie Mosli did a great job in their roles even though I don't know much about them.. The lead character of John is not only convincing in the role, but you find yourself as a viewer putting yourself in his shoes. I was very sympathetic with John throughout this film and pretty much had no feelings towards Kim/Anne's except for their maze-like apartment which I fine really cool and something I like to invest in.
  
  Other reviewers had mention the pacing of this film and that too is my only problem with it. Though it's over 70 minutes but somehow manages to drag. Sure, mood permeates most of it, but it doesn't help once you realize that nothing much happens throughout the film. This could've been a great short film. Those who want to sit through it will ultimately be satisfied by the atmosphere, but it will be a little hard at points. The film ends on the interesting note, a nice, mind-bending twist that might be somewhat obvious but is no less effective.
  
  
  
  
  
  Score: 4
• Posted on 2008-02-17
  Norwegian "Rooms of the Mind"...
  
  I've seen a fair share of excellent psychological thrillers; The Korean hit "Spider Forest", David Lynch's "Mulholland Drive" and the mind-bending Japanese cult hit "Strange Circus". "NEXT DOOR" is a Norwegian film that follows the same vein as the aforementioned films. When I think of a so-called "psychological" thriller, I rather believe it refers to the screenplay being focused on the main character who is placed in a very bizarre and frightening situation that may cause him to question the thin line between fantasy and reality. Fellow amazon reviewer C. Christopher Blacksheare peaked my interest on this film and I found it very note-worthy of my time.
  
  John (Kristopher Joner) is a nice young man who had recently broken up with his girlfriend; Ingrid (Anna Bache-Wig). It is fairly obvious from the get-go that the relationship didn't end on good terms. John wants to patch things up but Ingrid just wants to get her stuff and leave. She goes as far as suggesting to John that her new boyfriend Ake is waiting downstairs.
  The next day, John encounters two very attractive neighbors; Anne (Cecilie A. Mosli) and Kim (Julia Schacht). The two young women behave very peculiar. Not long after, John finds himself locked in the maze-like apartment next door with Kim who exhibits some violent, very sexual and disturbing advances on him.
  
  It would be rather unfair to give you any more hints of the film's proceedings because its plot hinges on the screenplay itself. The style is reminiscent of "Pulp Fiction" and writer/director Pal Sletaune does an incredible job in mixing up timeline in the structure of the film. The film's biggest strength is its awesome structure. At first glance, I thought that the main premise is the relationship between John and Kim, and then John and Anne; the film jumps around to different conversations that give subtle clues and details (example: Anne's undergarment). However, the film's premise is actually the reason for John and Ingrid's break up and the factors surrounding both before and after timetables.
  
  However, that's all similarities to "Pulp Fiction" end. "Next Door" is a study of a man's inner psyche. A man's inner subconscious is struggling to wake the consciousness. The film is a lot about obsession and deliverance, and eventual descent into madness and rise back to reality. There are quite a few graphic images of violent sexual behavior that may turn off a lot of viewers. The director does an excellent job in the film's pacing; it starts off a little slow then when you witness the violence, you will realize that the film isn't a sappy psychological mind-bender. The wierdness and the occasional graphic images escalate from that point on.
  
  "NEXT DOOR" does a lot of things right, but it is not perfect. There are two flaws that may hamper the film. 1) It is a bit too short, it is about 78 minutes long including credits and 2) the shock-ending is a little predictable. I figured out the film's ending 15 minutes into the film. Despite these minor flaws, I did realize that the film isn't so much as a mystery, but rather how and when the "hidden" if subtle clues are about. It is more a character study of John and his "sexual" state of mind. There is quite a few details that the average movie-watcher may miss, but the director does a very excellent job in putting the clues and details all together.
  
  Nevertheless, I found "Next Door" a well-made film. It does contain certain darkness to it that I was thoroughly pleased that the director had the guts to follow through with the shocking images. The film is very successful in applying a sinister and atmospheric mood to it. It may have played its hand a tad early but the film is definitely a nice piece of challenging cinema.
  
  RECOMMENDED! To people who fancy mind-benders...[4 Stars]
  
  
  Score: 4
• Posted on 2008-02-05
  Have your shrink on speed dial
  
  This movie will mess with your head! Psychosexulogical? See I'm making up words now. This is an abrasive, erotic, trippy plunge into creepy madness.
  Next Door can be confusing as it jumps around quite a bit. But don't worry, it doesn't take long for everything to play out. It's a great thriller that juggles loneliness and madness. In the same vein as Repulsion, with a little Psycho, Memento, and Basic Instinct mixed in.
  Big thanks to Berith for throwing this one out there. Highly recommended, just have a bottle of Xanax or Zoloft handy, heh-heh...
  Score: 5
• Posted on 2008-01-13
  VERY WELL MADE SEXUAL/PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER!
  
  Next Door(Naboer)is a 2005 Norweigan flick written and directed by Pal Sletaune. It's a trippy mindf*** type of film that has elements of 'Jacob's Ladder', 'Fatal Attraction', 'Audition', and 'Se7en'.
  
  Our movie starts off with Ingrid(Ann Bach-Wiig)at her ex-boyfriend John's(Kristoffer Joner)Apt. collecting her things after the final breakup. There is an unspoken tension that's present right from the start, and anyone who as had to collect possesions from an ex knows how uncomfortable this can be, and these opening scenes capture this perfectly.
  The next day, As John is coming home from work, he shares an elevator ride with Ann(Cecelie Mosli)who lives 'next door' to him. Anne asks John to help move a few items. We are then introduced to Kim(Juila Schacht). Immediatly, there's a 'chemistry' between John and Kim. The girls lure john into a very uncomfortable conversation, and after a few minutes, John leaves.
  A few hours later, Ann knocks on John's door asking if he can come over to keep Kim company while she goes to the pharmacy. John initially says no, but then Ann tells John that Kim was recently the victim of a sexual assault. John reluctantly agrees. Kim immediatly tries to seduce John, and results in a VERY intense and disturbing sex scene involving consentual violence! After that point, John starts to experiance disturbing repressed memories, paraniod feelings, and hallucinations, But are the memories needed to see things clearly for the first time?
  
  Next Door is a trippy mindf*** that has a very sexual vibe to it. The story is sort of non-linear after the first 20 min. Flashbacks of Ingrid and John's breakup are scattered throughout the film. There's a very paranoid and uncomfortable feeling to the story.
  
  The cinematography is exellent. The Apt., and overall look of the film is remenicent of Se7en(John Doe's Apt.). There are long, narrow tracking shots of Kim and Ann's Apt. to create a 'labrynth' feel. That combined with the dark color creates a very unsettling atmosphere. The Apt. itself becomes a character.
  
  The acting is perfect!! Even though John is the main character, Julia Schacht is the one that stands out! If for no other reason, this film needs to be seen for Julia Schacht's performance! She is a very talented and intense actress(reminded me of Angela Bettis, May-Sick Girl)and will gain your full attention the second she steps on film. The tension between John and Ingrid is very well acted.
  
  The editing is solid. Like I said earlier, This is a trippy kind of flick littered with jump-cuts(flashbacks)and the flashbacks are important to the story. One drawback is that Pal Sletaune made it a little to obvious, and fans of these type of films might pick up on the 'hook' before it's revealed. Having said that, the exact ending is profoundly disturbing, and unexpected.
  
  For fans of 'Jacob's Ladder', 'Audition', 'Fatal Atraction', and 'Se7en', 'Next Door' is a MUST SEE!!!
  ***WARNING***
  Other reviews contain spoilers that will completely ruin this film for first time viewers!!!
  Score: 5
• Posted on 2007-10-03
  Craziness
  
  Ok, Im giving this movie 5 stars because its one of those that at the end of it you ask yourself,"What did I just watch?" Different genre, but Requiem for a dream is the only other movie that left me sitting there with a blank look on my face for about 10 minutes after the movies over. If a movie can pull that off, its well worth it. This movie is crazy, theres one scene(buy it and you'll know),that-dang! I cant ruin it for you. PREPARE TO BE SHOCKED!check it out
  Score: 5