I viewed Dark Was the Night once on Netflix yet could not remember it so I watched it again, falling in love with it to the point I'd love to write a book adaptation. It is a fantastic movie but I recommend anyone who watches it to take it at its value. Without further ado, let's get to the review. Release Date: Jul 24, 2015 Director: Jack Heller Major Cast: Kevin Durand, Steve Agee, Lukas Haas, Nick Damici, Sabina Gadecki Genre: Horror, Thriller Synopsis: A long slumbering evil is awoken in the trees, outside the remote town of Maiden Woods. Isolated and threatened it sets its sites on the townspeople, as Sheriff Paul Shields attempts to overcome the demons of his past, so that he may protect those that he loves. Review: As I mentioned above, I have had the pleasure of watching Dark Was the Night not once but twice. It is a supernatural horror filled with an overwhelming amount of tension set in the small town of Maiden Woods. Sheriff Paul Shields (Kevin Durand) has suffered an extreme loss - one he punishes himself for on a daily basis while trying to balance the demanding job of a town under siege. Aided by his young deputy (Lukas Haas), the two are the only thing that stands between the small town and a hungry beast. What begins as supposed prank by the local kids soon darkens when Sheriff Shields must accept he is dealing with something not of this world. I personally found this movie a truly beautiful experience. It is full of tension immediately following the gruesome murder of a team of loggers. A powerful example of a story hook if there ever was one. The cast of characters breathed life into the very real pain any parent who has lost a child suffers. Sheriff Shields gives us a sense of feeling haunted yet teeters on the edge losing control of his sanity which he copes with by drowning himself with work. He is down on himself, a character embodying darkness before the creature is even introduced. His deputy Donny (Lukas Haas) serves as a character of light, the opposite of the sheriff, almost a saving grace. This is further supported when we learn of Donny's own brush with death after being shot in the busy New York streets. Cool filters are added to give a blue hue to the film which enriches the movie with the perfect tonal setting. The season in which the production was shot is in the winter. All of these factors add to the overall tone, setting the perfect stage prior to the grisly murders. This movie has one of the most beautiful soundtracks - a perfect balance of tension, horror and downtrodden - tracks. It is one I often listen to when writing my own horror novels and one I recommend to horror authors looking for a good mix of tonal beats. One of the best things about this movie was how the creature remained faceless, something I wish the screenwriter, Tyler Hisel, would have kept unknown. Revealing the creature took away the horrifying setting the movie worked hard to create. It's something I wish more horror and supernatural thriller writers would do - keep the faceless malice. I find it makes the movie more powerful (at least to me). With the strong character flaws, gorgeous cinematography, great music and a creature guaranteed to leave viewers looking over their shoulder at night, Dark Was the Night is a horror film I'd recommend to lovers of creature features. This being said, I'd urge anyone watching the movie to leave their minds open and see the film for what it is - a look into the human condition. Have a movie you want reviewed? Let me know! I am always on the lookout for new horror and thriller movies to review. For book reviews, go here.
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