I really wanted to like "Dark was the Night". Partially because it was recommended to me by a regular horror buddy whose opinions rarely ever differ from mine, and partially because you can easily tell that everyone involved in this production had the very best of intentions. Director Jack Heller clearly wanted to make an old-fashioned and atmosphere-driven monster movie; - one set in a sleepy little town full of fatigued and mentally tormented inhabitants, and with a monster that remains unseen and enigmatic until the climax. I admire that, honestly, and to a certain degree it works effectively well, too. I'm definitely giving points to "Dark was the Night" for the moody atmosphere and the integer acting performances, notably of Kevin Durand. Heck, I was even amused at how the script shamelessly makes use of all the most ancient and overused clichés in the book. The Sheriff is wrapped in self-pity and torn apart by guilt over the accidental death of his son, the amiable deputy returned from the big city with a trauma, 5th generation descendants mumbling about ancient Indian folklore legends, farm animals mysteriously vanish ... I mean, wow, who knew scriptwriters still dared to put that derivative stuff in horror films released after 2010? But then, there's the inevitable moment when you realize "Dark was the Night" keeps on building up and building up, yet nothing actually happens. Instead of putting so much effort in creating atmosphere, Heller and his crew ought to have focused more on action. Especially the exaggeratedly bleak blue colors quickly began to bother me. In order to make the forest, the town and its people look moodier and more depressed, a type of blue filter must have been placed over the camera lenses, or something. Everything looks blue in order to make you feel blue! Oh, and many reviewers around here keep raving about the fabulous end shot, but it's honestly nothing special (if you are familiar with cheap B-horror, that is)
Review of Dark Was the Night
