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That title? It’s not kidding. In Kevin Phillips’ “Super Dark Times,” darkness settles over a small Hudson Valley town after a horrific accident forever alters the lives of a group of seemingly normal teens, including stars Owen Campbell and Charlie Tahan. A cross between “Stand By Me” and “Donnie Darko,” with plenty of “Stranger Things” evocations for good measure, it’s the kind of film that lovingly recreates the final wonders of childhood while hitting back with some horrific adult truths. High school, what a thing.

Per the film’s official synopsis, “Zach (Campbell) and Josh (Tahan) are best friends growing up in a leafy Upstate New York suburb in the 1990s, where teenage life revolves around hanging out, navigating first love and vying for popularity. When a traumatic incident drives a wedge between the previously inseparable pair, their youthful innocence abruptly vanishes as their lives spiral into violence.

Growing up in suburbia can be painfully dull, and sometimes the battle against that boredom can turn nasty. In Kevin Phillips Super Dark Times, a group of teens in the suburbs during the 1990s dealing with typical teen problems that soon blossom into the atypical.

In his review from the Tribeca Film Festival, John Fink wrote, “Virtually free from quirk and black humor, the film is an effective, nasty thriller and a rare horror film that provides an emotional investment because the portrait of teenhood is utterly authentic. These are not sexy 20/30-somethings playing teens wise beyond their years in a throwaway product designed for the weekend multiplex crowd. Phillips and cast offer something significantly more nuanced than that.”

The new trailer for Super Dark Times hints at the inciting incident the film centers around while keeping things intentionally vague, because it seems the less you know about this movie...

Tony Sokol Aug 4, 2017

The new trailer for Super Dark Times hints at an intriguing high school horror. Take a look within...

“A harrowing but meticulously observed look at teenage lives in the era prior to the Columbine High School massacre,” reads the official synopsis for Super Dark Times, director Kevin Phillips’ feature debut - his 2015 short film, Too Cool For School, premiered at the Cannes Film Festival to enthusiastic reviews.

Set in 1995 suburbia, Super Dark Times stars Owen Campbell (The Americans, Boardwalk Empire) and Charlie Tahan (Wayward Pines, Love Is Strange) as the two best friends. It also features Amy Hargreaves (13 Reasons Why), Max Talisman (Orange Is The New Black), Elizabeth Cappuccino (Jessica Jones), and Sawyer Barth (Public Morals).

The trailer hints at a traumatic event in the woods that involves four high school students and a samurai sword, but the advance press hints the film is more about shifting dynamics of high school.

Anyone lucky enough to have caught Kevin Philips' debut feature at any of its film festival appearances can attest to what a phenomenal piece of work it is. A tragic tale centered on the relationship between two best friends and the terrible accident that drives a wedge between them, Super Dark Times offers up a chilling portrait of adolescence.  Here's the official synopsis and new trailer: Synopsis: A harrowing but meticulously observed look at teenage lives in the era prior to the Columbine High School massacre, Super Dark Times marks the feature debut of gifted director Kevin Phillips, whose critically acclaimed 2015 short film "Too Cool For School" premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. Zach (Owen Campbell) and Josh (Charlie Tahan) are best friends growing...

[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...

Those who had the chance to catch the excellent shorts program of Memory Presents: Program No. 1 during the Toronto Int. Film Festival saw quite a number of emerging filmmaking artists (see the entire list after the jump below) and their short film work. In exclusive the snip-it of video, we find future all-stars Carson Mell, Pippa Bianco and Kevin Phillips discuss their work and inspiration. Now the traveling road show is making it’s next stop in Montreal (October 6th – 7:15Pm Phi Centre) with upcoming dates to be set up in the U.S.

Memory Presents “Program No.1″, an exclusive never before seen collection of 10 short films by emerging filmmakers from the Us and Canada. This 90 minute one night only event consists of award winning films from festivals such as Cannes, Sundance, and SXSW, as well as exclusive premieres. Three of the directors featured in the program recently premiered...

Indie producers Riel Roch Decter and Sebastian Pardo’s prod company label Memory is sprouting a new branch in the shape of a curated traveling short film series. Taking place in Toronto during Tiff on September 12th, the inaugural card for Memory Presents is a talent heavy who’s who of upcoming helmers that we’ve seen, and/or will be seeing at major fests such as Sundance, SXSW, Cannes and Venice/Tiff. The 90-minute-ish program will include world premiere showings from Robert Eggers, Kahlil Joseph (both will already be at Tiff presenting their feature length films) and Patrick Brice (from Creep and The Overnight) along with Sammy Harkham. Noteworthy female filmmakers include SXSW & Cannes-winning short from Pippa Bianco (see still of Share above) and Celia Rowlson-Hall who’ll next to featuring her debut feature Ma at the Venice Film Festival will have her previous short shown as well. We...