Darklands

Despite all of the feverish accolades on the box, I found this to be a conventional and dull film. The few scenes of the pagan ritual might be disturbing were there not some sub-portishead music playing on the soundtrack the entire time.The scenes of the gypsys living outside the power plant were grimy and creepy. I was very annoyed by the fact that this film compared itself to the great "The Wicker man." while that film was an attack on Christianity and organized religion, this film seems to just be about how bad and evil the religous cult is which I found kind of silly and reactionary.

Horror fans, as well as drama and suspense fans will really appreciate this low budget, yet well thought-out film. Whilst containing references, in tribute, to some of the best movies made, it is still a highly original and intelligent movie, raising questions about paganism and Welsh culture. The ritual scenes are very atmospheric and beautifully shot. There are some great "jump-out-of-your-seat" moments, especially as you really start to become drawn in to this film. Some well-respected and accomplished actors featured, who also help make it more than just another low-budget horror flick. Refreshing and highly recom

SURPRISINGLY diverting horror thriller set in Wales and prompting a terrific performance from Cliffhanger's Craig Fairbrass as a reporter lured into a mire of pagan rituals and the occult by svelte 'trainee journalist' Rowena King. Before he knows it, he's up to his neck in pigs blood and human sacrifices. The pace builds relentlessly till he's caught - literally - on a one-way train to hell and damnation!

It's a really boring film, but has it's highlights! The first hour of the film sucks, but the last 30 minutes are moderately good. One cool thing is when the main character, Frazer, drives around with his girl and if you watch the background they pass a power plant (some factory) and just a few seconds later they are going backwards passing the exact place again, but reverse... *lol* =) Anyway, the ending is cool too, I'm not going to spoil anything, but it does not end like most film does! =) Best regards, /Janne

An industrial Celtic cult is recruiting people from the local steel mill and leading them in pagan sacrifice rituals - I wonder if it could have anything to do with the gypsies just outside the mill? This is an example of one of the plot drivers that this film relies on - ones that are pretty obvious from the start.

However the film also has plenty of other plot twists that are revealed along the way, most of these are good but too many rely on coincidence or overlooking the facts. The whole cult-conspiracy thing is a bit unbelievable - maybe the Wickerman succeeded with a similar plot due to the island setting - here set in Wales it's not as easy to accept. But if you can overlook this then it's actually quite good.

The performances are OK - Fairbrass doesn't quite bring off the fear and confusion that he should but does a reasonable leading man. Rowena King is good as the love interest Rachael, she's there to add a bit of sex to the proceedings - however that said the love scenes between her and Fairbrass are laughable, clearly neither agreed to be naked on screen and their orgasms are harder to believe than a Celtic cult sacrificing Welsh people. The other characters are mainly rent-a-Celtic-thugs or small parts - you can usually tell whose bad or good easily enough due to the performances.

The plot is reasonable but regularly fails to convince - with most good films you're able to buy into it at least while you're watching it. For most of it however the twists keep your interest. When I read the comments on these pages I watched this in anticipation for the shock ending - however it's not there! You pretty much know how it's going to end 20/30 minutes before it happens. It's still an OK ending but lets not make this out to be what it isn't - a reasonable TV special that got some lottery money to become a film.