Dark Signal

The special effects, the acting, the writing and the directing were nothing to write home about. On those levels this was probably on a par with some of the (worst) English lunch-time and early evening soap operas in the eighties. Though this is a lot more frightening and gruesome than they were.

Anyway, there are three leading characters, here; a cynical female DJ at a radio station that's on it's last show before being taken off air; her male colleague who is like a production manager at the station, and then there's a single mum who is desperately struggling to keep her head above water with the bills and rent, etc. On the same night that the radio station is airing its last show the single mum goes on a trip with her boyfriend, who is going to rob a football player's house in the countryside (not far from the radio station) because the player owes him £40,000. Meanwhile, at the radio station, they have a special guest for the last night; a top female psychic who comes in to do an interview, but they end up receiving a message over the airwaves from one of the victims of the Wedlock killer; a serial killer on the loose who's been killing newly wed women and cutting off one of their fingers for a trophy.

There you have the basics. I'm not saying anymore about what happens, but, although it's all done on a very low budget, the makers of this arranged the story and put it together very well. A rare and hard thing to do it seems, these days, in movies. I came away from it thinking that if this was made back in the eighties it may have become a cult classic; just for the sound effects, alone. I'm giving this 5.5/10 because I like how it ended...and it wasn't predictable.

This British horror keeps it simple with its gripping paranormal subject in a ghostly but beautiful backdrop of Snowdonia. The remote location of this radio station had me feeling shivers from the start. The performances were all compelling and the witty dialogue between the two DJ's lent nicely to the suspense in the car scene. I did think things moved a little slow there but I was on the edge of my seat regardless. I enjoyed the classic filmmaking style especially in this scene featuring the paranormal which had me jumping out of my seat.

Overall I really enjoyed this independent paranormal horror and with its twists and clever writing, think it stands highly amongst the mainstream of its genre.

I was looking forward to watching this new horror film set in beautiful Snowdonia, but my anticipation soon turned to amazement as the opening scene came to a conclusion.

It wasn't amazement at the wonder of the acting and production - more amazement about how this got distribution and didn't end up going straight to DVD or whatever happens to low quality films nowadays.

Apart from a couple of exceptions the acting is awful, right from the supporting actors leaving messages on a telephone answering machine through to one of the main female characters played by Joanna Ignaczewska.

Whoever cast her must have forgotten to do a screen test with the script, because she is not suited to this film whatsoever - even though she seems to have quite a long list of film parts behind her.

The only two worthwhile performances are given by James Cosmo and Gareth David-Lloyd. Without either this production would fall further into the abyss of 'films that could have been good'.

There are numerous mistakes and continuity errors in the film for which there is no excuse, and I get the feeling the film was cobbled together to a formula rather than being a developing artistic endeavour.

The film is disjointed and it is hard to get a feeling of substance.

It is set in Snowdoina, with the rest of the characters having no real connection to the location whatsoever. Polish female lead, Scottish farmer role, and an Italian actress, and various others who must have been handily hanging around on casting day.

If you are thinking of paying money to see this either at the cinema, online, or on DVD you would be better off waiting until it ends up in the bargain bin - which it is bound to do sooner than later.

This movie frustrated me. The footage was really well done, very effective use of dark shadowing and an overall creepy, atmospheric gothic vibe. Had some genuinely scary section reminiscent of The Ring.

I thought the directing and editing was really well done.

But 'oh man' the acting was pretty bad, nearly everything was overacted. To be fair, it was mostly the lead female roles. When the lead blonde actress wasnt speaking, or crying, it was okay. When she was silent, she was okay. I just felt that this could have been a horror classic with better acting.

The twist was good, i didnt predict it, that helps.

Overall I loved the plot too.

It's rare I say this, because most most modern remakes arent wonderful. But PLEASE redo this with different actors.

wow hard to fathom how people trash this actress! i found her believable and enchanting! from scene one she conveys her disturbed mental- emotional state. she follows through maintaining a mental disturbance that's subtle and quite genuine! being an actor and director myself i think i know what I'm commenting on. she plays crazed very well and shes beautiful. perhaps the critics here are JEALOUS? The film is shot with great lighting and stark minimalism. I love the isolation! the music is magnetic and it all drew me in to keep watching! ( Netflix is enticing to switch films non stop if boring) so i stuck with this having to see the outcome. its also SEXY dare i say! i dug it!!!