Black Rain

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.

And then about half way through, the story and characters took a turn for the worse. I can't remember which scene did it but there was a point where I audibly groaned because I knew it would be downhill from there.

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.

'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.

Go on and blame it on the rain 'Cause the rain don't mind And the rain don't care You got to blame it on something that was fallin' fallin' (Blame it on the stars) that did shine at night Whatever you do don't put the blame on you Blame it on the rain (yeah yeah) You can blame it on the rain.