The Dark - Angst ist Deine einzige Hoffnung

A solid movie in all aspects. However, Nadia Alexander kills it. An actor who can anchor a scene and bring intensity and believe-ability to most anything. The film touches on some dark themes and subjects throughout and does a good job of revealing what matters to the story. No spoilers, but the ending did what I was hoping for and not what I thought it might do instead which would have had it perhaps take a more tropey direction. The set was great and the make-up was exceptional.

Plot

An undead teenage girl befriends a blind boy that she meets in a forest she haunts and hunts in. Both have been victims of unimaginable abuse, and each finds solace in the other. There may be a chance of light at the end of their tunnel, but it will come with a body count.

Cast

Not familiar with anybody involved.

Verdict

A Canada/Austria collaboration, I went into The Dark knowing only the curious concept, and based on this alone I knew this would be an interesting unique film and wanted so badly to like it. But you know what happens when you go into a film with high expectations, they're rarely met.

Now to be clear this is an interesting unique film, that I could never take away from it. Like it however, not so much. I found it 1 part enjoyable for every 1 part confusing.

It's one that is watchable for the novelty value however doesn't live up to what it promises and therefore doesn't deliver a competent coherent story.

Could have been so much more with just a smidge more ingenuity from the writers.

Rants

I feel like they missed out a large chunk of the story, arguably two and I won't put any spoilers here. But I feel like we're owed an explanation regarding a certain origin and more importantly an element to the story that they implement they kind of just u-turn on with no logic nor reason. Man, this could have been so good if they'd just had better writers.

Breakdown

Great idea Unique Poor execution A few elements feel incomplete.

I enjoyed the movie but it was more sad than scary. Unique story with good acting. Some violent scenes but poignant as well.

This is not a bad movie, nor is it a great movie.

PROS: The acting is superb, all the cast did an excellent job, which is the film's strongest asset. The mood is well captured, and it does a fair job of using emotion properly to convey what is left "unsaid"

CONS: A little too slow-paced, even for the nature of the movie. There is a sever lack of explanation for many aspects of the characters back-story and conclusion. While some might say in it defense that is "leaves it to the viewer's imagination", which I am fine with, this film takes that a bit too far in my opinion, and it makes it a bit disjointed.

My expectations thinking perhaps this was going to be in the vein of "Let Me In" perhaps skewed my opinion. The premise is similar on a very basic level - "boys meets undead girl, they sense kindred spirits", but this film was not executed nearly as well.

Great acting but far too many an answered questions.