Lionsgate has today debuted the official trailer and poster for The Gates, a taut horror-thriller written and directed by John Burr. The film marks Burr’s second feature following his supernatural debut, Muse, and looks as though it leans into a more grounded, pressure-cooker setup.
The film stars Mason Gooding (Heart Eyes, Scream [2022]), Algee Smith (“Euphoria”), Keith Powers (The Tomorrow War), and James Van Der Beek (Bad Hair, “Dawson’s Creek”).
According to the official synopsis, The Gates follows three college students — Derek, Kevin and Tyon (Gooding, Smith, and Powers) — whose road trip veers off course when they take an ill-advised shortcut through a secluded gated community. After witnessing a murder, the trio find themselves unable to leave the compound, trapped behind its walls as suspicion quickly turns toward them.
As the night unfolds, the three young men are blamed for the crime and pursued by residents of the community. Internal divisions begin to surface as their differing belief systems clash under pressure, fracturing their unity while the threat around them intensifies.
Van Der Beek plays the community’s patriarch, a figure who has been described as both charismatic and controlling, exerting influence over the residents as events spiral out of control. The role marks one of his final screen performances.
Produced by Nancy Leopardi, Ross Kohn and Gary Glushon, The Gates is an Indy Entertainment & Core 4 Films production in association with Rebellium Films.
Lionsgate will release The Gates in the U.S. on March 13, 2026.
