Right At Your Door
Director: Chris Gorak
Actors: Mary McCormack, Rory Cochrane, Tony Perez
Release Date: Monday 30th November -0001
Genre(s): Drama, Thriller
Running time: 96 minutes
Human instinct, self-preservation and the government are the central themes to Chris Gorak's Right At Your Door, his debut as a writer/director. Like a sister film to Paul Greengrass' United 93, Right At Your Door documents the hypothetical events of what could happen if America came under chemical warfare. But whereas Greengrass did a remarkable job in refusing to cover his film in The Stars And Stripes, Gorak goes one further and manages to make his film subversive. Out-of-work musician Brad (Cochrane) is at home when the first radio message of an explosion in downtown LA blares out across the airwaves. People are advised to stay at home and, because the dust contains dangerous chemicals, they are told to close up their homes and seal off any vents and windows. With his wife Lexi (McCormack) in the city, Brad leaves it as long as possible before he relents and shuts up shop. When she does return, she pleads to be let inside but Brad's self-preservation kicks in and he refuses. Now, with soldiers roaming around outside looking to 'help' those infected, Brad and Lexi conduct what could be their last conversation through the back door window. How Gorak managed to maintain panic, confusion and a relentless pace even though his film is set predominantly in one house still remains a mystery. Taking his cue from Welles' War Of The Worlds, Gorak bombards us with contradicting radio bulletins that only heighten confusion rather than allay fears, and sinister soldier patrols that would put the chills up anyone. Rory Cochrane, in almost every shot, gives the film focus and holds together the piece with skill; his nervy performance is played with such a high intensity throughout and ranks at one of the best seen this year. Gorak leaves us with the brooding thought that the last people you want to trust - if something like this did happen - is your government.
