Darkest Night

I saw this film recently at a private screening, the "final final" version (I think 99 min. long?) in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia. I'm not sure about the hype that something like this really happened in Malaysia, but the film delivers on its own. After the story got set up, I was grabbing my seat the whole time. DJ Perry and the Filipino cast was excellent. Plus one great Malaysian actor! Very good! Hooray! If you want to see a film that will scare the wits out of you, this is really it. The "home video" setup made you feel like you were trapped in some dark place, a nightmare where you could never wake up. I had nightmares myself the night I saw it, about people getting chopped up and mutilated. If you check out any horror film this year, see this one!

I was fortunate enough to see this film (the final, 97-min. version) at a private screening in KL, Malaysia. Because of the subject matter, it will be impossible to show this film commercially in Malaysia. I'll explain more about this issue later. For now, let me talk about the movie itself.

The premise of the film is that a Filipino news reporter discovers a videotape at what's left of an old house. The family that owned the place disappeared mysteriously on Dec. 25, 2003, leaving their house in ruins. However, in 2010 the reporter gets the video and edits it, transforming it into "Darkest Night" as a "documentary." The film purports to tell the story of the family's final night.

First off, let me say that this film delivers the scares enough to make it a satisfying "horror" film. The synopsis on IMDb pretty much says it all. A family gets together in an isolated part of the Philippine mountains, at the home of a wealthy relative, for a Christmas family reunion. Then, everything goes horribly and demonicly wrong. The film contains many things you normally see in a horror film (set in an isolated place, people getting killed one by one, etc.). On the surface it appears to be standard stuff, with a few interesting twists and turns.

What really impressed me was the depth of the film, given its "found video" premise. Most of the characters and family situations are so real as to be disturbing in themselves. There were moments of intense, gut-wrenching family drama, as well as terror, and some excellent commentary on a world-consuming culture where a loving family can disintegrate before the invasion of materialism, technology and TELEVISION.

My second point, as a Malaysian Chinese person, is what the film meant to me personally. Through friends, I heard (and this info is posted on the film's website) that the story is based on a Malaysian "urban legend." According to the story (which cannot be verified because of government censorship), a wealthy Chinese family disappeared mysteriously in the Cameron Highlands during a New Year family celebration on Feb. 1, 2003. The original American producer tried to make the movie in Malaysia based on this story, and he was forced out of the country by government resistance. Was there a cover-up? Nobody in Malaysia knows for sure. Certainly, the Chinese minority in my country are not allowed to know.

Determined to make his film, the producer traveled to the Philippines where there was no such censorship or government sensitivity. So the film was done with a Filipino family on Christmas in the mountains of Luzon, instead of the original Chinese in my country. The film-makers make no claim that the film is "based on a true story." That will probably never be proved one way or another. Still, I'm happy, as a Chinese Malaysian, that at least the story can be told, even with Filipino stand-ins. Is it true or just a myth? At least people know the story and can decide for themselves.

OK, for the review part. Unfortunately, the technical elements (sound, lighting, camera work, etc.) of the film leave much to be desired. I suppose the background "music" can be justified by the fact that this is actually a "documentary." Still, this movie is "light years" better than such crap as "Apollo 18," but often I felt the director was just letting the actors go, avoiding lighting and forgetting decent camera work instead of really directing. I assume this was all done in the name of "found video" realism. To me, it was often found video bothersome. Still, I saw "Paranormal 3" and felt the opposite, like there was an entire crew and host of professionals behind the too-nicely constructed scenes, instead of just a "found video." I found it way too over- produced to be believable. So I guess people can make arguments either way depending on personal tastes.

The acting and writing in "Darkest Night" are superb. What I found most riveting were the actors and the story. Nic Campos was simply amazing as a tragic family member trapped in a hell mostly of his own making. The "star," DJ Perry did well enough, playing the "American anchor" of the film (probably to ensure North American distribution). Anne Gauthier did a hauntingly beautiful job of acting (she's gorgeous and sexy in her own right) as a classic Gothic protagonist, trapped in a dark situation, trying to escape as everything appears to be coming apart around her. Some of the minor characters seemed a bit wooden at times, but ALL the major actors were top-rate.

So, in spite of all the film's obvious short-comings, if anything, it shows how a good story and excellent actors can trump almost any kind of "technical" short-comings. People from everywhere will enjoy this film, including Filipinos and Americans of course. But I urge all Malaysian Chinese or non-Chinese people to see it any way you can. You may be getting in on inexplicable events our government simply does not want us to know.

Shot in the Philippines and most people speak choppy but comprehensible English. Opens with text about David and Michelle Espino, along with others, vanishing; their home found in ruins. Danny Valencia creates a documentary from the footage and he must have added the cinematic scare scene sounds.

Dramatic reenactments are noted followed by a found footage deep dive. David and Michelle meet her family and drink and eat and then the lights go out. Cellphones and cars do not work. Everyone is in the dark and carrying lanterns or candles.

This is shot from the creepy, autistic relative who is mute minus his heavy breathing. A synthetic dragon roars in the woods and then in the house.

Lots of lantern lighten screaming at each other in the dark. Someone disappears; demonic possession + demonic possession; your favorite aunt births a demon baby that disappears.

Visually interesting, but marred by poor acting and an unclear story. Which is not atypical for shi.t horror films. It does try though.

Approaching this film with the doubts I've come to view almost all "found footage" horror films, I was truly amazed with this entry. With the exception of the Paranormal Activity 3 and 4, all the found footage movies I've seen in the past year or two have been awful. But this film is different. Even though the directing is about what you'd expect in found footage stuff (actually a little better than PA), the writing and acting are awesome. After a brief section introducing the family members and friends in the story (with some nice humor), then the action really rolls! Once things get moving, there's hardly a stop to catch your breath from then till the end. Just the ending in itself will leave you breathless. The characters are well made and acted, so you really do care about them and care what happens to them. Every family has its "skeletons" in the closet, so if you come from the average family, you can relate to the characters here. If you see any found footage horror films in the next 12 months, make sure it's Paranormal Activity 4 (and 5?) plus this movie!

Granted I had no idea what I was getting myself into here when I stumbled upon "Darkest Night" and decided to sit down and watch it. All I knew was that it was a horror movie of sorts, which was essentially all I need to be persuaded to sit down and watch a movie on.

Turns out that "Darkest Night", not only was the darkest, but also the most boring of nights. I managed to endure 45 minutes of pure torture of the ordeal that is known as "Darkest Night". The storyline had zero appeal and the fact that absolutely nothing happened in those 45 minutes made me give up and I have absolutely zero interest in returning to watch the rest of the movie. And also the horrible and shoddy camera work that was all over the place didn't help sell the movie one bit for me, quite the opposite actually.

As for the acting in the movie, well... Let's just say that you shouldn't be expecting anything memorable or outstanding. Well, there was one outstanding performance, and not for a good thing mind you, it was the lady whom was supposed to have been to France and returned to the Philippines, are you kidding me? The horrible accent she was speaking with was just downright painful to listen to.

"Longest Night" might be listed as a horror, but don't do the mistake I did and get suckered in because this was a snoozefest of epic proportions. There is nothing, and I mean absolutely nothing worth of any interest in the movie. Take heed and stay well clear of this, unless you have a fetish for wasting time on pointless movies.