Loma Lynda: The Red Door
Dir: Jason Bognacki
Cast: David Fine, Iglesias Estefania,
Runtime: 16 Minutes/35 Minutes (Two Versions)
Reviewed by: Marc Patterson

I’m going to come out and say this up front. Loma Lynda: The Red Door is hands-down my favorite pick for this round up.

Director Jason Bognacki encapsulates the glamorous high fashion sensibilities of the Italian giallo films of the 70’s, incorporates a healthy dose of postmodernism from the French New Wave, while making a nod towards Noé, and tops it off with Lynchian narrative to create a violent, yet alluring film that is sexy, stylish, and wonderfully shot. It’s pure visual artistry that will leave you dazzled and disturbed.

The plot isn’t the easiest to get on the first pass unless you’ve read a synopsis ahead of time. So this is where we come in. In its most basic form the story follows a schizophrenic woman Lynda who relives her abusive past in a dual form, set against the false beauty that is Los Angeles. Beyond this I don’t want to give away much else as this is a film that should be experienced without too much foreknowledge.

The floating camera work is immediately striking and equally stunning as it perfectly complements the surrealist state of being the film induces on the audience. And as with all of Bognacki’s work the sound tracking is as important to the composition of the film as the intricate camerawork and narrative. Often his shorts are shown with a live band performing and The Red Door is no exception. Certainly watching the DVD doesn’t detract from the experience of seeing the film in a “live” environment. From the trailers below you’ll find it to be highly haunting score.

Included in the DVD I received were two versions of the film – the sixteen-minute festival version, and a thirty-five minute that fleshed the sixteen-minute story out further. Due at some point in the near future is a feature length film.

Loma Lynda: The Red Door is a gripping and compelling film that will have you just as horrified as you will be captivated. The Red Door isn’t just my favorite short horror film that I’ve watched in 2009, but I rank it amongst my favorite films of the year, period.

Check out two trailers below, and as a bonus I’ve included a third trailer for Bognacki’s upcoming short film The White Face. For more information you may also visit the official website of Loma Lynda.

The Red Door – La Porte Rouge from Jason Bognacki on Vimeo.

The Red Door- La Porte Rouge “Lynda” from Jason Bognacki on Vimeo.

The White Face – Teaser by Jason Bognacki from Jason Bognacki on Vimeo.