Darkness Falls

Darkness Falls, I think that the working title of Dangerous Obsession worked better! With its small budget it lives up to the great tradition of other recent British films, not really in the Cool Britannia market(Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, The Full Monty) but nonetheless has a lot to offer its audience. A tense thriller which ending leaves you feeling more than satisfied, and some exceptional characters brought to life by experienced and highly talented actors, notably Ray Winstone(Nil by Mouth) and Sherilyn Fenn(Twin Peaks), all together a good watch, highly recommendable.

Another superb performance from the versatile Mr Winstone in this thrilleresque tale of a man who holds a well off couple as hostage to nobody but themselves. Not your usual tough guy role from Ray - he manages to leave the viewer thinking as to how far off the rails is he going to go. The three main characters (Winstone, Sherilyn Fenn and Tim Dutton) hold your attention throughout the main plot, which mainly occurs in the same room. There is a bit of a sub-plot that doesn't really add to the drama but just makes you ask the question "what's that all about" until all is revealed at the very end. Was obviously filmed on a limited budget but comes across as fairly stylish from an independent film company - possibly running out of the Isle of Mann judging by the location. My only real criticism is that the other "names" in the cast have mere walk on parts that are really no longer than a couple of minutes on the screen. Final summary - well worth watching but don't expect a fast action movie. Sit back and think about it!

This is one of the most predictable movies you will ever see, except for the last 20 minutes or so, which is quite satisfying.

It's a "suspense" film, and the overall story is good, but the writing is horribly inept, as the viewer is relentlessly put to sleep by the tedious dialog.

It's obviously made for two types of spectators. In the movie theater, it's made for the crack head or meth head, or some abuser of drugs, because only someone on serious drugs could stay awake through this ordeal. If one can stay awake, one is rewarded by a decent non-Hollywood ending. This means the ending is meant for the people who don't abuse drugs, but the rest of the movie is meant for the "haters" who do abuse drugs.

In the home viewing, it is meant for "groups of three or more", where two people chat while one keeps up with the story and tells the others, until that one is too bored to go on, then a relay goes into place for the group. This is not uncommon in group viewing, and movie makers know this.

However, it makes for a mediocre movie.

If the dialog was better, if the writing was better, if the movie would be about an hour shorter, it would be a very good movie. The characters are well drawn enough, although the "bad guys" are totally Hollywood caricatures. The "non-bad" characters are three dimensional, however.

Not to say it was a bad movie. Just that it is impossible for a non-drug abuser to sit through this in one entire viewing, so you would be advised to switch to another station for ten minutes or so, about three times in the beginning of the movie, then back, in order to be satisfied. You'll get the picture, and you'll predict exactly what the lead character is up to, withing the first 15 minutes of the movie, in terms of the "money crime", and you'll gather enough to realize what he's up in the "morality crime" soon enough, since that drones on and on throughout the movie.

I enjoyed this movie despite two problems:

First, the damned synopsis tells far too much and ruins a nice surprise.

Secondly, I was dissatisfied with the ending. . . you'll see why.

But the acting, and the general story was excellent. I especially appreciated the arc of the Sherilyn Fenn character, and totally believed it! This is rare, as often it is forced. But the circumstances of this story called for it.

Also, Ray Winstone shows his range here (see Sexy Beast for the other end of the spectrum).

Darkness Falls could just as well have been stage play, and a good one at that.

Give it a shot.

It's such a shame that only 24 people have voted on this because the people who did vote don't know a fine film when they watch one.

Ray Winstone puts in yet another awesome performance showing a fragile side that he is not noted for. I really can't recommend this film enough and will not go into the plot but just say see this. If you're in the USA it's just getting a release on VHS/DVD, I guess after Sexy Beast people want to see more of Ray.

One of the finest actors in Britain who is now really begining to shine in other countries. Grab any film you can that he's in, you won't regret it. But start at the first, rent "Scum" if you can find it in your local video store (US People) or buy it online..