I don’t know where to start my review of The Dark, other than to say this one snuck up on me. I went in with doubts and left my viewing thinking, “damn, this could potentially become a classic.” The Dark is unsuspecting and unrelenting, and beats you over the head with terror, choking suspense, a sense of loss, and yet it also infects you with a child-like wonder. This one digs deep into your psyche and never lets go, attacking your five senses and morality in a way that I haven’t experienced in a long time. It’s a beast, and I loved it. The latest feature from Dor Films and produced by Danny Krausz, Kurt Stocker, Laura Perlmutter and Andrew Nicholas McCann Smith, The Dark takes place on the outskirts of a small, woodsy town, known only as Devil’s Den. Many hikers and explorers have entered Devil’s Den, and none of ever left. If you ask any local inhabitant, they’ll tell you the spirit of a young girl who was murdered there haunts the forest and hunts anyone who steps foot in her terrain. She’s brutal and barbaric, but what happens when she discovers a lost young man, who is just as tortured and traumatized as she is? Is redemption possible? Is friendship possible? Find out in The Dark, starring Nadia Alexander, Toby Nichols, Karl Markovics, Sarah Murphy-Dyson, Daniel Beirne, Margarethe Tiesel and Dylan Trowbridge.
The Dark is in theaters and on demand October 26th 2018 courtesy of Dark Sky Films, and I’m glad to see that this one is getting the chance to have a theatrical run. It certainly deserves to, perhaps more than any other horror title this year. But, your experience in the theater may be a different event than you’d expect… if anyone watches it like I did. The Dark is a movie that forces you to watch in quiet, horrified silence as you take in all the drama, trauma, and bloodshed happening on screen. The movie title is accurate as Hell because there’s nothing to cheer for here. Prepare to be lost, depressed and a little bit disturbed by the time you hit the end credits. The Dark is also expertly filmed and produced. It’s one of the best looking films of the year, so shout out to cinematographer & co-director Klemens Hufnagl and editor Julia Drack for their efforts in making this movie look like a million bucks. I imagine it’s going to receive a ton of best camera work awards in the future, if it hasn’t already. The camera work, the star quality performances from the young actors, and the incredible scores all made The Dark creepy, mesmerizing and unavoidably strange – if not all together perfect. It’s dark yet absolutely beautiful.
Writer and director Justin P. Lange created and conquered one of the best horror films of the year. It’s emotional, slightly artistic and so disturbing and frightening. A true master-class in film-making. I’m so blown away. I know you probably want more plot details, but I’m leery of giving any away in hopes of keeping this one as suspenseful and thought provoking as it should be during your initial viewing. I will say there’s an abandoned house, a killer with an ax, bloody children, eye injuries, ghosts, pedophilia, a search and rescue party, shenanigans and a whole lot more, but I will not tell you how it’s all linked together and how long each element appears for. Boil this one down to a ghost girl finds a disabled boy and they go on a savage, wild ride together. It’s almost like Warm Bodies, but without zombies and romance. I could go on for another paragraph, but you’re probably tired of reading about how much I loved The Dark. I highly recommend seeing it in theaters, and then you should even get your copy on digital, too. This one has tremendous re-watchability and it’s definitely a movie you’re going to want to share with other like-minded horror viewers. Just so you’ll have someone to talk about it with. Enjoy…
Final Score: 10 out of 10.
