A week after the shocking news of James Van Der Beek’s death at 48, the trailer of his upcoming film The Gates has been unveiled. It offers a glimpse into one of his final performances. Released on February 18 by Lionsgate, the preview presents the late actor in a dark and unsettling role that sharply contrasts the characters that once made him a household name.
The thriller centres on a tense night gone terribly wrong for three young men, played by Mason Gooding, Algee Smith and Keith Powers. What begins as a seemingly harmless outing quickly spirals into danger when they make a fateful decision that changes everything.
According to the official synopsis, Derek, Kevin and Tyon embark on a journey that takes a dark turn when they opt for an unexpected shortcut through an isolated gated neighbourhood. The description calls it a “road trip gone wrong, as the three young men take an ill-advised shortcut through a remote gated community, where they find themselves trapped behind the walls after witnessing a murder.”
As suspicion grows, the trio find themselves at the centre of blame and pursuit. Internal differences begin to strain their friendship as tensions escalate. “Over the course of the night, they find themselves blamed, hunted and fractured by their own differing belief systems, while the perpetrator (Van Der Beek) emerges as the cunning patriarch that holds the entire community under his influence.”
The trailer teased mounting psychological tension and a gripping survival drama, with Van Der Beek’s ominous presence standing out as a powerful and haunting performance. His portrayal of a sinister, influential pastor marks a striking departure from the roles that first brought him widespread recognition.
