Darkness Falls

I'm not sure why all of the severely negative reviews. I enjoyed this movie. Sure, some faults, but...what the heck! It was pretty good and not a waste of my time on a late Sunday evening.

How many times would you find it credible that angry, determined people--particularly trained police officers--would lose control of their guns simply because somebody reached over and grabbed it from them? Well, you're about to find out, if you watch this stupid thriller in which that is the single most unintentionally funny element. It's a suspense-free serial killer drama with the entire focus on Shawn Ashmore's cop, whose wife is a victim at the begnning.

Every step of his revenge is as predictable as it is hackneyed, made worse by the fact that Ashmore just doesn't have the gravitas for this kind of part. Other performances are adequate (Gary Cole is effective enough as the main villain), but the writing is witless and the direction takes it all waaaaay too seriously. It's not a good movie, and despite what some others have said, I didn't find it "so bad it's good"--though yes, those "dang the bad guy got my gun again" moments did make me laugh out loud. But the rest is just mediocre genre trash, without any eccentric ideas or style to make it interesting.

Epic failure to execute what could have had great potential as far as plot line. Felt like watching a rejected entry to film school. So many things wrong it's hard to sum up so would just suggest a hard pass and save an hour and a half out of your life you can never get back.

What are certain peoples motivations? Why are people commiting certaing evil acts? I don't think you will get the answers to that or any similar questions. What you will get is the descend of our main actor who loses a lot and "acts" accordingly. By having actors that can actually act and have some weight they add to their roles, the movie wins a couple of points.

If you are good with that, the movie will satisfy your needs. It is a good enough thriller and action movie. Gary Cole - it's been a while since I last saw him on screen. Way underrated and really good. Of course he is not the main focus, but he is important. Again it doesn't matter why things happen .. but they do happen ... Wonder what you would do if ...

I am a tad puzzled by low scores, giving it one or two stars is simply not fair. The movie is more than competently made, some good camera work, decent acting and enthusiastic score. Granted, it does have shortcomings, holes in the story line, slips here and there, but it never feels unwatchable. Eve more so, I find it to be perfect for late night watching that does not require full attention. Solid 5/10 and, as a top 1K, I stick to it.