La créature des ténèbres

I think this movie is one in a million.. I watched it last night on BBC 1, obviously because Neve Campbell is in it. I think she is gorgeous and is a great young Actress in it.. I mean.. It's not every day you find a great Actress at such a young age.. I think Neve was 19 in it. I have to admit.. The Actors/Actresses wern't the best (An exception to Neve) of Actors and the Movie was a bit fake.. But I was kept entertained throughout the whole Movie! I loved it!

This is one of the neatest movies I've seen in a long time. It is creative, fast-paced, fun, freaky, and surprising all at once. What more could I ask for in a film? Here's the rundown: (it's been awhile since I've seen it, so a few minor details might be off)

Stephen McHattie plays a doctor who is on the trail of a creature left over from prehistoric times: a giant rodent-like beast whose blood has the magical power to heal. The creature lives in tunnels it digs underground in cemeteries, and McHattie has finally tracked the last of its kind to one in a small town. Unfortunately for him, the creature is also being trailed by a crazed FBI agent (played by the always wonderful Brion James) who wants to kill the creature because it killed his partner.

Not much else to say about the plot without giving away surprises, other than that the climax inside the creatures tunnels are some of the coolest scenes I've watched. They create suspense and make you giggle while you shiver. And it is a prime example of how you don't need a super huge budget to make a super movie. Horror fans, this is a must-see! Zanatos's score: 9 out of 10!

I sought out to see the handful of entries into the horror genre achieved by the late, great Brion James, which led me to check out "The Dark". It turned out to be an adequate late-night movie, owing a lot to the creature features from the 50s. The concept of the monster in this film is original and intriguing, and the thing itself is actually scary-looking, too. The triple conflict between the monster, the hero scientist who wants to preserve it, and the vengeful cop who wants to kill it adds to the story's effectiveness. A few contrivances and assumptions are forced on the viewer towards the start of the movie, especially how the hero survives his encounter with the creature in the opening sequence, and his initial 'adventure' with the waitress-cum-reluctant-sidekick, subsequently followed by their proper introduction at a nearby motel. But it's all worth it once the characters reach the cemetery under which the monster dwells. Most of the action takes place in a single night, which is always a plus for horror. And the whole picture has a very nice, um, 'dark' atmosphere to it.

I was surprised to see Neve Campbell's name appear in the opening credits, and although I was never a particular fan of her, she turned out to be quite a pleasant surprise in "The Dark". Brion James is excellent as the ruthless former detective hellbent on revenge against the creature at any cost. And Stephen MacHattie plays up his undeniable resemblance to Lance Henriksen by doing his best to act like LH, too. Worth watching as a late night rental. Though it never spawned a sequel, it probably deserved to, and I like to think it could still happen. Especially if they can get Neve to be in it! 5/10

A scientist and a waitress (Stephen McHattie and Cynthia Belliveau) investigate a gigantic, prehistoric rodent living in tunnels underneath a cemetery. Meanwhile, a retired FBI agent (Brion James) seeks the same creature, only he wants revenge for his partner's death. Now, along with two gravediggers and a sheriff's deputy (Neve Campbell), the final confrontation begins.

THE DARK is a good, old-fashioned monster movie. If you enjoy such fare, then you'll probably like it. The giant rat is fairly well-realized, and kept mostly in the shadows to hide any shortcomings. The human performances are adequate, with Mr. James playing another of his intimidating characters. The story is decent and never becomes tiresome. All in all, a good way to spend a late-late night of movie watching...

A scientist and an ex-FBI man are both hunting for a strange creature that lives underground and feeds on the bodies of the dead. This strange monster has the ability to heal deadly wounds, but the ex-FBI agent (played with wild menace by the great Brion James) is determined to kill it because it killed his partner. Be sure to look for an early career appearance by Neve Campbell as a young Deputy.

Because of the average script, combined with a decent cast, this movie manages to somewhat overcome the fact that the monster looks like an extra from a 1950's horror movie. Worth a watch, but not a whole lot more.