Was drawn into seeing 'Dark Signal', with as said for many films seen an intriguing and reasonably creative premise and as someone with a general appreciation for horror. That it was low-budget, which from frequent personal experience is rarely a good sign due to that there are so many poor ones out there, made me though apprehensive.
'Dark Signal', simply put, turned out to be a disappointing film and waste of potential with a few fairly small positives and so much done catastrophically wrong. Not one of the worst films ever seen, not even close, but 'Dark Signal' is a classic example of how not to do a premise deserving of a film that does it justice.
Lets start with the positives. The scenery is atmospheric and the music fits nicely and has eeriness.
A few decent twists and there is a passion for horror at times though it only comes in spurts when too much of the film is undone by the mediocre at best and often bad execution of everything else.
However, the story does feel over-stretched and some of it feels vague, under-explained in the last third where the film especially became duller, more predictable, more senseless and less scary. Too many characters are too sketchy and with nowhere near enough to make one want to endear to them. Their irritating and illogical decision making and behaviours frustrate. Making the film feel bland and forgettable with not enough heart put into it. The acting is pretty bad to put it lightly, particularly from agreed Joanna Ignaczewska spending the entire time looking unsure and bored, and the effects are ropy at best.
Dialogue can be stilted and rambling, not to mention far too exposition-heavy, while the pace is uneven, dragging in a lot of the first half, which goes on forever and fails to get going, and never is it exciting after a truly irrelevant beginning. Found too many the supposedly shocking moments not surprising or scary and the supposedly creepy atmosphere dreary, due to the excessive obviousness and the lack of tension and suspense. Too many elements are introduced, and then dropped, barely explored or don't go anywhere, sometimes even all three.
A lot of the film completely fails to make sense, both in underdeveloped plot elements and often nonsensical and confusing character motivations. There is a lot of choppiness and lack of coherence. The threat is poorly used and poses very little threat. The film completely peters out with an ending that felt like an afterthought.
All in all, very mediocre at best. 4/10 Bethany Cox
