The Pale Door is a western horror surrounding an outlaw gang who seeks refuge in a derelict brothel after one of them is shot during a train robbery. The cinematic opening title sequence endeared the film to me immediately. Visions of spell books, dark writings, and witches danced across the screen. What followed was a bit of a mixed bag. The best way for me to describe this flick would be to refer to it as a chimera. It’s full of incongruities, starting with acting ability, with some folks giving their all while others deliver flat performances. The creature effects are delightful, but for all the build up, the third act fizzles somewhat disappointingly. Yet somehow, all of this chimera’s mismatched parts do still come together to make something that is charming, funny, and full of whimsy.
The Pale Door will be available on blu-ray and DVD October 6th, 2020.