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Review

Behind the Red Door is a new melodramatic film from Showtime about a gay man dying of AIDS and his reconciliation with his estranged sister. Kiefer Sutherland stars as Roy, a rather obnoxious gay man who runs his fashion business with insults and secrecy. Kyra Sedgwick plays his sister Natalie who has hid for decades from her brother's tirades. Stockard Channing rounds out the cast in the role of Julia, Natalie's agent - she's a photographer. The high quality cast is what holds this film together.

While Roy has been out for as long as anyone can remember, he's kept his AIDS diagnosis and the death of his lover from AIDS secret from everyone. But as his health declines he asks Julia to intervene and bring his sister back to help him. There is also a sub-plot about their mother being murdered by their father. This story is supposed to get us into these difficult characters, but what it does is add more melodrama and nastiness to the film. While this writer doesn't mind dark films, there should be a payoff - there really isn't here - it's just a tired film populated with people you wouldn't want to be friends with. This writer knows that the film means well - it simply doesn't work in spite of the great actors involved - who all did a great job.

Scott Cranin