Black Rain

If you are going to attempt to put out a science thriller, you should at least have some semblance of knowledge about science! The entire story of this movie, a toxic rainstorm... the premise is so flawed, and explained so badly that I kept hoping the main character (a supposed chemistry genius) to suddenly turn to the camera and say... "wait a minute", this just isn't possible!", then POOF, he wakes up from the bad dream and we start with the real plot.

I think that if you are going to put this type of movie out, either your writer or director should have at least passed grade 9 science...

I appreciate movies and shows where the science fiction is at least plausible... but to set it in modern day, with modern technology to expect me to buy that sulfuric acid could rain from the sky... well that is ridiculous.

Well, it is an interesting movie but very unrealistic. People who want to save the world vs. The evil big corporation. Acting was pretty good for a low budget movie the most part but there are a few over the top moments. The storyline is interesting but reminds me of Captain Planet. The most unrealistic part is the level of damage and pace of it due to pollution. It does not have a political feel to it well at least not one that is going to sway anyone's opinion. I don't think anyone will find this movie remotely possible. Basically a cookie cutter movie and it is something you would expect to see on the sci-fi channel.

This is a strictly low budget, paint-by-the-numbers, greed-head-business -person-causes-disaster movie, though there is not much disaster save for some rather severe dermatitis and a few annoying characters who get killed off.

It starts with three college student campers -- they look thirty-ish -- who pitch their tents across a creek from an ultra hot, Chippendales' quality genius -- graduate degree from Stanford at age 17 -- who lives as a hermit in a tent with a chemistry set. He resents the quarrelsome threesome invading his privacy but after three or four passive-aggressive snippy encounters he bonds with them. He is pretty deadpan, not at all like a boy prodigy, with little dialog, like he has some sort of spectrum disorder.

Then the fun begins. A storm is brewing and the inexplicably horseshoe shaped forecast track has it coming right over the campsite. When it does, the precip has battery acid-like qualities. Mayhem ensues.

Fortunately the acid rain does not damage windshield wiper blades or tires (it actually Vulcanizes them, we are told, makes then stronger!) so an escape can be started. Trees are fine too. But it is hell on a paint job. And it is like a chemical peel on unsuspecting humans.

Blah blah blah fast forward and we learn all about about an evil businesswoman. A greedy anti-green ore mining company. Some ridiculous plot turn involving a past relationship between two of the characters. It is not really explained. And a corrupt veterinarian / spokesperson for the company.

This is all like a really bad SciFi Channel movie meets Hallmark Channel. OK for wasting time. But not if you are looking for something serious, thoughtful.

'Black Rain', also known as 'Dark Skies' centers around a group of Cali misfits ( yes, another piece of junk venued in the fictitious town of Timberton, California) who find mystery and intrigue while camping out in the wilderness, trying desperately to get away from it all. They run into Jack Weston, a renowned Stanford University scientist who now lives remotely while conducting his own scientific research and experiments. He initially resents the intrusion of these city folks, but is mellowed by the charm of an attractive woman, one of the 'intruders'.and warms up to the group. In fact, love eventually blossoms between Weston and one of the male campers with whom he has much in common. . All of this is taking place against the backdrop of an impending environmental calamity that everyone eventually will have to escape. The heroes emerge .

I'm not going any further, not that there's much to give away. The good guys and bad ones are obvious from the beginning. Don't waste your time here. You'll never get it back.

"Black Rain" is a kind of toxic rain disaster conspiracy thriller with a paint-by-numbers plot, stock characters, and a rather suspect science premise. It's the kind of thing you watch, late at night, when you're not too fussy, and the only other movie playing is "Terminator", which you've already seen 27 times. There seems to be an entire movie industry built on these low-budget made-for-TV potboilers. But wait. The writers threw a wrench into this one. Jack, Jenny and Andrew are out camping. Jack and Jenny (I know, I know, those names) are an item. Andrew is the fifth wheel. Andrew is gay. Enter Kevin, a hot guy with a cute butt. Kevin is a hermit living in a tent, nearby, with his chemistry set. Kevin is also gay. Do you see where this is going? Will they or won't they? Anyway, bad things happen but Kevin and Andrew save the day. They kiss just before the final fade-out. It's good to see a gay romantic subplot in a project such as this, even if it's presented in a rather chaste manner. Otherwise, this is strictly generic fare - filler for cable movie channels and a hook on which to hang commercials.