The story of two siblings left alone in a secluded home on the Western frontier.
They’re heartened by a note left by their parents, promising to return home soon with a new brother or sister.
They’re frightened by strange noises they hear — or think they hear — from the door that leads to the home’s attic.
Twelve-year-old Caroline is determined to keep the home tidy, warning her 9-year-old brother Darrell that their parents could return any evening.
As the days pass, and fears of the attic grows, Darrell grows more restless, straying from home, wondering if he and his sister should leave for good.
He soon discovers he’s living in a vast wilderness. And there’s really no where to go.
And though their parents have left Caroline in charge, Darrell’s determined to learn to care for her. She’s beginning to show signs of illness.
Madison Davenport as Caroline, eagerly awaiting the return of her parents in The Attic Door (2009)
Jake Johnson as Darrell, gazing at the scarecrow in the garden he and his sister tend in The Attic Door (2009)
Review:
A great example of how it doesn’t take a huge budget or large cast to make a compelling movie.
Kudos to Danny Daneau for an impressive feature film debut. And to the two young actors — both 10 at the time of filming — who carry the film and make it an endearing tale of sibling affection.
Memorable scenes include the siblings taking a break from their chores to splash water on one another, pretending to celebrate one another’s birthday and sneaking off to their fort — an abandoned wagon — to watch the stars at night.
In an interview at the 2009 Bend Film Festival, Daneau says he saw hundreds of young actors before settling on Madison Davenport and Jake Johnson.
The two qualities he wanted in his leads — children with vivid imaginations who hadn’t completely lost their fear of the night.
Davenport has gone on to compile an impressive list of screen credits. She has a recurring role in the TV series
“Shameless” and appeared in nearly every epiosde of “From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series” (2014-2016).
Johnson has appeared in a number of TV series as well, with a regular role in “Man Up” (2011/12).
Madison Davenport as Caroline, reading another of her books in The Attic Door (2009)
Jake Johnson as Darrell, determined to prove he’s capable of caring for his sister in The Attic Door (2009)
Directed by:
Danny Daneau
Cast:
Madison Davenport … Caroline
Jake Johnson … Darrell
Kay D’Arcy … Old Caroline
Tom Fitzpatrick … Old Darrell
79 min.
Madison Davenport, wearing makeup, applied by her brother, for the first time in The Attic Door (2009)
Jake Johnson, warily gazing at the attic door after hearing strange noises in The Attic Door (2009)
Memorable lines:
Caroline, sitting in a pasture, having just finished reading another book: “Why are all our books so sad, Maggie?”
Maggie is the family’s cow.
Caroline, when she and her brother hear noises from the attic: “It was just a bird.”
Darrell: “It didn’t sound like a bird.”
Darrell to Caroline, determined to show he’s capable of chopping the head off a chicken, though he finds the task extremely unpleasant: “I need to be able to take care of you.”
Darrell: “Caroline.”
Caroline: “Yes.”
Darrell: “We have fun, right?”
Caroline, hesitantly: “Yes.”
Darrell: “Yeah. But we could have fun wherever we are.”
Caroline: “We can’ leave.”
Darrell: “We need help. Something is happening.”
Caroline: “From who? Someone out there? We would never make it alive.”
Darrell: “It’s not safe here. Not anymore.”
Madison Davenport as Caroline, reading another of her ‘sad’ books in The Attic Door (2009)
Jake Johnson as Darrell, realizing how isolated his family’s farm is in The Attic Door (2009)
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