A Dark Song

A determined young woman and a damaged occultist risk their lives and souls to perform a dangerous ritual that will grant them what they want.

"A Dark Song" is already being praised as one of the best horror films of 2017. While it is always good to be skeptical about such hype or buzz, especially when it is coming out of the film's own PR machine, in this case it just so happens to be true. This film is bound to make it on to many best-of lists for the year.

What makes the film brilliant is its two main characters, who we (the audience) are never quite sure about. We have a woman with ambiguous motives and purposes, and this uncertainty only adds to our curiosity and the film's suspense. Even when we find out why she is involving herself in the occult, we are only given half-truths, and more layers are left to be unpeeled.

In contrast, we have a dubious leader for this cross-dimensional experiment. C. S. Lewis famously said that Jesus was either the lord, a liar, or a lunatic. While this man is no savior, the same three categories could apply to him. For much of the film we do not know if he is a lord (authentic), a liar (charlatan trying to get money from a mark) or a lunatic (someone who thinks they have powers but clearly does not). This uncertainty is what drives us to keep watching, to see if he can deliver on his promises... and how, along the way, we see how shady he just might be.

The dark, ominous score is perfect, and for a film with a modest budget we still get some creepy effects (such as a dead dog). The creators made a film the way a film ought to be made: within the boundaries allotted without over-reaching or stretching yourself too thin.

Most of all, the praise should go to the excellent writing, which not only provides the two great characters, but really captures the occult. Not that I claim any real knowledge of black magic or the dark arts, but everything here is done so well, so convincingly that it seems like it could be real. And that is about the highest praise a script or fantastic film can receive.

Horror movies come in many forms. Some are about the gore, some are about the creatures, and some are just plain disturbing. Though i like many a horror film with those qualities, a true horror fan of the genre also has to appreciate the horror films that try to get under your skin without trying have someone's face ripped off. A Dark Song may be subtle but it is a horror tale nonetheless. What makes this a gem is the ride to the climax. With great performances from the two main characters and it's haunting score it's able to create a tense dark atmospheric mood so that when the horror elements do begin to appear it makes them far creepier than most films with a bigger budget. Most horror movies can be compared to other horror movies because they're filled with the usual clichés but this is a unique horror film with a redeeming quality that is very rare in films of this genre..if your looking for a movie where people are being chased by monsters or tortured by inbreds then this movie is not for you..but if your looking for a horror movie with an intelligent approach then turn down the lights, get your popcorn and let this movie work its magic

At first, I was interested by the ambiguous circumstances, i.e. is this guy really helping her do magic or is he just some weirdo that's tormenting her for some reason? The premise and characters are solid enough that this is compelling enough to string you along for a while, despite a glacially slow pace, but then the big questions are answered and the mystery disappears and then things just start kind of meandering for an uncomfortably long while.

There are many more attempts to build suspense later on, but none of it really stands out. Things do take a turn that I did not expect near the end, which I won't mention, but by this point you're already 1h20m into a 1h40m movie. The "payoff" is brief and handicapped by some really lackluster effects, and the final scene will just leave you scratching your head wondering why. No, not in the sense that it's confusing in any way, it's very simple and straight forward, but it's one of those endings that's just TOO simple and sappy. So much that it makes you wonder just what the hell the point of everything the characters did over all that time was. All of that effort? For that? Ugh.

Edit: P.S. Who else is wondering what exactly all the reviews calling this movie intelligent and cerebral are about? I notice people love to throw around terms like that when referring to movies like this, yet somehow never seem to get around to explaining what was so clever about them. The movie had good dialogue and acting, but the plot couldn't have been simpler and the underlying message of the film is one we've all seen many times before across various genres, so I'm at a real loss trying to see what exactly anyone found intelligent about this movie. A lack of creatures and gore doesn't automatically make a movie intelligent, kids.

As other reviewers have noted, if you're looking for an "Insanitarium"-style splatter-fest then this film is not for you. The first hour of "Dark Song" is a mysterious, deliberately-paced psychological thriller with two interesting characters stuck together in a house for months, feeling each other out. An occultist (Joseph) is trying to help a woman (Sophia) contact her dead son. This requires dark rituals, fasting episodes, and sleep deprivation. Their motivations and honesty are both in question, leading to plenty of dramatic tension. What's real, in terms of both past and present? Who's lying to whom? The film takes its time exploring these questions, and for the first hour at least, the viewer's patience is well-rewarded. I especially liked Steve Oram's occultist character, who doesn't fit the classic mold of "actor" or "hero" one bit, and is all the more fascinating for it. I won't go into deeper detail for spoiler reasons, but suffice to say that both characters fall into the logical traps of mistrust, manipulation, and frustration after being cooped up for so long.

My problem with "Dark Song" was its ending. It made sense from a dramatic standpoint, and of course there were several directions it could have taken. The fact that I wasn't satisfied doesn't mean you won't be. But along the way I had some really freaky ideas that I hoped would be explored, and they weren't.

In any case, I still recommend "Dark Song" as a mature, well-made, and disturbing psychological thriller.

Pay no attention to critics or low ratings. This is a simple master piece. Slow, dark, suspenseful, with a perfectly amazing soundtrack by Ray Harman, and a great pay off at the end of the film! So glad I stumbled upon this gem! This is my kind of 'horror' thriller! All the film makers involved should be proud! If you're into the occult, slow, intense movies, this is a MUST see! Excellent film!- Kipp Howard