The horror genre is a great place for self-discovery, and many stories have used the werewolf myth as a starting point for stories of change, with films like Ginger Snaps And Bloodthirsty using the metaphor of lycanthropy as a way to explore autonomy. Eriko Katagiri’s debut feature, presented at Fantasia Fest, is another fine entry into this subgenre. It’s a story that combines horror, fairy tale and introspection, delivering something thoughtful and breathtaking.
Miki (Motola Serena) leads a quiet life. She has a job, a husband, and is a functioning member of society. And yet, something seems to be missing. Miki lacks self-esteem. She is quiet, soft-spoken and terribly shy. At work, she sits at a corner desk and quietly goes about her tasks, largely unnoticed by her colleagues. At home, she lives with her loving husband, but in a way that doesn’t seem entirely balanced.
Miki returns to the office after lunch one afternoon and tells her colleagues, “I was bitten by a wolf.” This may seem absurd in any circumstances, but in Japan in particular it is almost impossible, because wolves no longer inhabit the island. A few days later, she received an invitation to attend the “Moon Waiting”. There, she joins a small group of women and children (the children all wearing wolf ears) in a lively gathering. As the moon rises, they tremble and scream together, allowing the raw energy within them to rise to the surface and be unleashed into the world. She takes part in the festivities and seems to feel comfortable for the first time. Dancing, singing, and finally screaming, she found a place that embraces the magic within her, whatever it may be.
When you open the door is not a typical werewolf movie. The lupine’s affliction isn’t portrayed as anything horrible, and there isn’t necessarily a monster lurking in the shadows here (although there are a few tense moments). It is more complex and more like an intimate representation of awakening. Miki discovers her true self. The power and the person that has been buried inside her, waiting for the right moment to come out. It is through the encounter with the wolf that she finally seems to have an outlet for this to emerge and grow.
Through her journey, it’s almost as if Miki has rediscovered a sense of identity that she had been missing her entire life. What we initially thought of as shyness could also be called emptiness, and now it is whole again. She smiles, she moves with purpose, and she seems to have evolved into something more. She found herself and through this experience, it was as if she came alive for the first time.
The film oscillates between a story of self-discovery and self-affirmation and one that evokes a modern fairy tale. There are beautiful moments, but also frightening moments, as Miki and the audience must face the unknown and understand the truth of what lies within her. It lives comfortably in the space between horror and fantasy, and while it’s grounded, it still exudes a sense of wonder.
This is a very interesting debut feature, and I can’t wait to see what Katagiri comes up with next. She does very well in the space where horror can merge with other genres, and I’ll be curious to see if that’s an area she focuses on repeatedly or if she’ll go for something more undeniably horrific in her next feature. Either way, the genre has one more exciting voice, and When you open the door is a film that invites audiences into a transformative space where anything is possible.
Music from the film: 4/5
