From a Place of Darkness

An aspiring film-maker finds a notorious snuff film director and begins interviewing him. His interest quickly turns to fascination and obsession, getting closer and closer to direct involvement in the productions, including cleaning up the bloody remains. But murder isn't the only thing to be worried about... the ghosts of the dead are turning up on film and will not suffer quietly.

I entered this film with mixed expectations. The few reviews that had surfaced seemed to be polar opposites: one batch praised the film as one of the best unsung films, while the other accused the praisers of being a part of the crew and puffing up the film with false reviews and ratings. Needless to say, this left the impression in my mind that this might not be the best film I'd seen in a while. My fears were squashed, thankfully, within five minutes of putting in the disc. It's no surprise this movie was nominated for Best Feature, Best Screenplay, and Best Supporting Actor (John Savage)at the Terror Film Fest.

Set to a heavy soundtrack, this film is packed with plenty of quality murder, and a chilling performance from veteran actor John Savage, playing the snuff director, Vic. As soon as he speaks, we're sucked in, perhaps horrified but also morbidly curious... murder for profit... on film? Tell us more, Vic.

While not flawless by any means, this film shows a strong sense of vision and direction from director Doug Raine, and I expect we'll be seeing more of him and 110 in the Shade Productions. With an interesting third act with Bronson Pinchot (Cousin Balki from "Perfect Strangers", or "The Langoliers")... you must see this film.

I saw a screening of this movie in Tucson, Arizona, and have been watching Amazon to see when I would be able to buy it. Already reserved my copy! The subject matter (snuff films) is totally sick, but what better vehicle to launch a horror/suspense film.

John Savage did a great job as the totally creep guy, especially in his first scene where he describes what he does, but I won't spoil you by saying more. Pinchot conveys how slimy he is so well that you want to shower after his scenes. For an independent film, the quality of the acting is a pleasant surprise.

What I really liked is that Raine (director/co-writer) doesn't dumb it down, but he plays the story out, making the viewer figure out what's going on. The direction is downright creepy, and the shots and angles keep you on edge until the last minute. The idea of shooting a shot through another camera was brilliant, and made it even more unsettling. This is one of those movies where the second time through will be better than the first.

Best part - the very last line is worth the wait!

Had a chance to see this film at a screening. This is the kind of film that just plain creeps you out,and lingers with you. I can't even tell you how many times I had to look away. It's dark, suspenseful and shocking. The story is very thought provoked (yes you have to use your brain) the ending forces you to ask questions and the acting across the board is solid, especially Conor Duffy and Travis Schuldt, and as far as Savage goes well, he comes across in a way that I have not seen him in years, like he was made for the role. Can't wait to see it on BluRay as it should jump off the screen and make one go screaming even farther into the dark.

I just watched this movie and it wasn't worth the time. Admittedly the idea behind it is somehow creepy, but the actors (and most of all the actresses) did an unconvincing job. The dialogs were stiff and sometimes the story wasn't really conclusive. Besides that one gotta have a sick mind to get a kick out of snuff you gotta be truly patient to watch this movie straight from the beginning to the end. The cuts were a la mode - sometimes they reminded me of some of those FBI TV series, but they didn't help building up tension. Considering the fact this was the first appearance of Douglas A. Raine as director, there's still a chance of improvement. If you're looking for a movie that deals with the snuff topic, you better watch "8mm" but don't waste your time with "From a place of darkness".

I was fortunate enough to see this movie last spring at a screening at Northern Arizona University. I was a film student at the time, and Doug Raines played it for a few of the students in a small auditorium in Flagstaff, Arizona, where he is an alum.

I had a good time watching this film. I can't comment on the score or soundtrack, because it was still incomplete when I saw it, but Mr. Savage does a superb job, and the story and writing are both well thought out and interesting.

This is the first film from Douglas Raines' production company, 110 In The Shade, based out of Tuscon, Arizona. I sincerely hope that his business does well and he continues to write and direct fresh material.