The Gate (1987) is the movie for this Sunday’s “monsterdon” watch party over on Mastodon, our fediverse sibling!

  • Just start watching that movie this Sunday, May 4, 2025 at 9pm ET / 8pm CT / 6pm PT which is 1am Monday UTC
  • and follow #monsterdon over on mastodon for live commentary. For example, you can follow that hashtag here: https://mastodon.social/tags/monsterdon
  • I usually open two web browser windows side-by-side on a computer. But you could follow the mastodon commentary on a phone app while watching the movie on TV or something.

How to watch the movie:

The film follows two young boys who accidentally release a horde of demons from their backyard through a large hole in the ground.

Michael Wilmington of the Los Angeles Times, in comparing it to the works of Steven Spielberg and Stephen King, wrote, “whatever minor triumphs it dredges up, is too hopelessly copycat”.[11] In rating it 3/5 stars, TV Guide called it a “surprisingly effective” and refreshingly uncynical horror film that may be too wimpy for some horror fans.[2] Commenting on the film’s dreamlike plot, Time Out said it could have been a cult film had the filmmakers abandoned their attempts to tie together the bizarre elements.[12]

In a retrospective review, Odie Henderson of Slant Magazine wrote, “If you can get in touch with your inner 12-year-old, The Gate is a pleasant diversion.” Henderson identifies family values as a core theme, though it is subtle enough not to be preachy.[13] Reviewing the DVD for Dread Central, Paul Nicholasi rated it 4.5/5 stars and called it “a MUST HAVE movie for all horror fans” that they can show their kids to introduce them to horror films.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gate_(1987_film)