Deep Dark

I was drawn into this because the description and some reviews made it sound like it would be a visual trip and very experimental. It's actually just a pretty straightforward story about a struggling artist. The only twist being he talks to a hole in the wall and it grants him parts to make his art. It also gets jealous of any woman he tries talking to. That's about it.

Don't expect a horror film. Or David Lynch-lite (which is what I kind of had in my head). Or any comedy. I'm honestly not sure who the intended audience of this film was. I kept waiting and waiting for something off the wall to happen and grew increasingly bored when it never did.

The one positive thing I will say, is that the plot was fairly original. It had lots of potential, I just wish it was more entertaining.

Like Herman, the main character, this movie is lacking something. Great concept if you're into weird stuff, the story moves along nicely in the first half of the movie but then... Something goes wrong. It gets too slow, performances are subpar, the jealous artist and the girlfriend in particular, and the killings arrive too late. Things should have escalated further somewhere along the part the manager goes into the bedroom (whatever happened to her by the way?). It would be nice to explore other aspects of the story, like the hole's origin and Herman's feelings about it. I was hoping this would be one of those misunderstood gems with an unfair rating, but nope. It is lacking.

A very original flick with a premise that is almost wholly unique. Plus, the plot is mostly unpredictable, which is refreshing. Fun, too; no heavy-duty moments in this black comedy. It's not a goofy all-out comedy, just so you know not to expect belly laughs or plenty of clowning around.

The story is about a left-wing loser millennial with no talent but who fancies himself an "artist". (Sounds familiar, huh? I bet you know at least several dozens of those.) His uncle rents out a flat to him that he promises will inspire him. What happens from there is quite weird and entertaining.

Deep Dark has the feel of an extended (79 minute) Twilight Zone episode without the genius of Rod Serling. A twenty something, no talent artist creates They are garbage. He winds up at an apartment with a hole in the wall. Behind it, he hears the voice of a woman. She is lonely, and in exchange for companionship will provide him with objects which seem to mesmerize gallery patrons. The Faustian bargain is successful and the artist must satisfy the hole in the wall in a most unusual manner. The premise was o.k. but it just sputters out in the end.

Deep Dark is a movie tethering on the fringe of horror genre, it's like a modern art on some posh gallery that may be confusing because due to its odd nature. It doesn't work like many thriller or horror flicks and takes a bit of time to roll, albeit its short runtime. There's just an intrinsic draw as though something bizarre is popping up yet one can't avert their eyes, and that itself is already a more successful horror than most.

Hermann (Sean McGrath) is an artist who's not particularly gifted. He tries hard to produce art to no avail. At some point his uncle rents him an apartment that doubles as a workshop. What he finds instead is a talking hole which presents him with artistic gift. This premise is so strange, it's almost satirically creepy.

In fact, the movie doesn't remotely have the same mystery feel to it, barely having any scare at all. It may even turn into comedy foray at a couple of instances, as it mocks its own protagonist and his predicament. The desperate artist angle works incredibly well, showing that desperation can give birth to foolishly appealing choices.

Without giving away much, this is one of the movies that relies on the quirky development, Deep Dark can be simplified into part haunting and part stalker theme. It's far from supernatural scares, so those expecting gripping thrill akin to Insidious might not find it here. The movie plays out in a type of fantasy, although it's still bizarre even for folklore premise.

Deep Dark is amalgamation of the weirdest aspects from fantasy and mystery wired together like abstract art. The sheer oddity leaves a strangely interesting aftertaste. It's recommended for those searching for something different, and the short length fits a lazy weekend slumber like a finger, among other things, on a mysterious hole.