Customer Reviews

The Dark Hours

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is generally a worthwhile thriller, although for a little while I was afraid it was going to degenerate into just another repugnant case of sadistic home invasion. However the larger context rescues the film from that slush pile and advances it into some interesting psychological territory.

Similarly, I was leery of the fact that the bonus materials on the DVD listed "alternative endings." Alternative endings usually signal to me that the people who made the movie had no semblance of a coherent artistic vision, but were only interested in gauging what would sell the most tickets. However it turned out that the alternates here aren't a testing of wildly different conclusions, but are varying extensions of the same basic conclusion. It was just a question of how far to elaborate the one idea. So there was no compromise of integrity, casting about here, there, and everywhere for the biggest fish.

There are some lapses of logic along the way, and I'm not sure the surprises could stand close analysis. Nevertheless, the film held my attention, concentrating me into a dark place of anger and despair

Director Paul Fox' The Dark Hours does one thing extremely well that is a staple of horror--it makes you squirm. This is a very disturbing, occasionally hard to watch film. Viewers with sensitive constitutions should be forewarned.

It's not so much that it's gory--although it is a bit, but Fox understands that the key to the effect he's shooting for is character development. So this is ultimately a small ensemble film--five characters in a couple of rooms, and we get to know all of these characters very well, thanks to both the writing, by Wil Zmak, and a fine set of performances. The characters are fully fleshed out and we can either identify and/or sympathize with them, so when some of them do terrible things to others, it has a lot more impact, and even when it's only a threat and there's nothing graphic about it, we feel it almost as if these events were happening to friends. The Dark Hours is very literally a psychological film, a fact reflected in its main character's occupation and the circumstances of the villainous characters.

It's also a "rubber reality" film--those are defined partially through "shifting" realities, where we as an audience, usually along with at least some characters, don't know quite what was real, if anything. After the recent spate of rubber reality films that all used essentially the same plot--including Stay (2005), The Jacket (2005), November (2004), The I Inside (2003), and eight or nine others going at least all the way back to Jacob's Ladder (1990) and the short The Awakening (1990)--The Dark Hours very refreshingly uses different kinds of twists in its questionably hallucinatory succession of scenes. The ending of the film is clear enough while still being nicely ambiguous. There is also an alternate ending on the DVD that is less ambiguous, but I don't think it works nearly as well. More ambiguity is better in a film like this.

And if you want themes and subtexts, Fox has them here in spades, including the desperation of those who know they're dying, the classic "who's crazy" conundrum between psychiatric professionals and their patients, and the turmoil of disintegrating relationships.

But you don't have to pay attention to that stuff to enjoy this excellent film. Just sit back and squirm.

I don't understand why this movie isn't more popular. It, honestly, is one of the best thrillers I've seen in a while. It definitely kept me on the edge of my seat and it definitely kept me captivated. Everything is really good: the acting, the directing, the cinematography, the music, everything. Kate Greenhouse plays her role perfectly and Paul Fox does a great job putting this film together. And the plot is simple yet it's really creative (the twists totally caught me off guard). All in all, if you're looking for a thriller, this is one of the better ones out there.

Dark Hours is a chilling, utterly terrifying look into the mind of a madman. In my opinion, the scariest movie are always the ones that could really happen. The movie begins as an inexperienced doctor (Kate Greenhouse) and her husband and sister arrive at her family's winter cottage to spend a peaceful weekend. But what starts out as a pleasant weekend getaway turns into a night of unadulterated horror. One of her father's patients, Harlan Payne (Aidan Devine) a violent sex offender, has returned to exact revenge and he doesn't care who from. This movie graphically shows what terrible evil the night may hold and gives all who see it good cause to spend their "dark hours" huddled in fear.

Dark Hours was a lot better than I was expecting. Never hearing about this film prior to seeing it for rent, I was a bit skeptical. Luckily, I was really surprised by the character development and gritty realistic feel this film had. Contrary to other reviews, I did not have it all figured out from the start. I was pretty confused even as the credits were up and rolling. Confused in a good way. A way that made me want to go back and watch it all over again. Recommended.

A terrific horror film, "The Dark Hours" starring Kate Greenhouse and Aidan Devine stands apart from other scary movies because it is very realistic, which is one of the reasons why it is a must-see motion picture. The film tells the story of a psychiatrist who wants a break from her crazy life so she goes to retreat at a cottage with her family. But that gets suddenly interrupted when one of her patients pays a visit seeking revenge. With many twists in the plot it will leave you guessing what's going to happen next. A well written story, the intensity will definitely have you at the edge of your seats and deep into the characters world. If you are looking for a horror movie that will without a doubt have your heart racing throughout the whole film, I would highly recommend it.

As said before, Dark Hours is about a psychiatrist who decides to go to her family's cottage to spend time with her husband and her sister. The weekend was meant for relaxation but it goes totally wrong when one of the patients shows up at the cottage. He's a criminally insane, violent sex offender and he wants revenge on the doctor because he believes she conducted experiments on him. Once he gets there, the horror begins.
It is scary because it's believable. The characters react in believable ways. I was never mad at the characters for doing something that'll obviously get them into trouble which is something I can't say for most horror flicks. And Kate Greenhouse totally plays the part perfectly and the movie totally makes you care about what happens next. It's pretty graphic but not in an overdone, obviously fake way which keeps it realistic. So yeah, this is definitely the best horror movie I've seen in a pretty long time.

The first time I viewed this - on DVD - I was impressed - not completely convinced/overwhelmed - but impressed enough to rent yet again - ok, I had a free rental coming - but I HAD to have a listen to the filmmaker's commentary. The commentary is excellant - talky, but not too talky, etc. What I do not understand - maybe someone else out there has noticed - during the commentary - the filmakers make one or two references to the closing credits. WHERE ARE THEY? Also, the commentary seems to get cut off mid-sentence at the film's end - then - blackness. It works, but I get the feeling I'm being cheated out of something! A problem with Freestyle Home Entertainment?

The Dark Hours is an interesting Canadian synthesis/update of two ideas that can probably never be filmed too much--The House In the Woods and The Monster From the Id. Although it's not an especially great film, nor did it especially engage me in an emotional sense, it's rather a treat to see such a well-made horror movie--particularly given its budget. As revealed in the filmmakers' commentary, The Dark Hours counterbalances the glut of horror movies focused on screaming teens in the suburbs. It relies more on subtle and intelligently wrought moments than on squibs and prosthetics, although it makes some use of those goo-spewing tools. And other tools, for that matter. Also, there are some surprises if not outright twists here.

It's clear even without the commentary that the filmmakers love their chosen medium. References to other works and directors abound. Even so, the overall film has its own identity. And the actors' performances are uniformly realistic given the subject matter. All of which makes for a very believable (and enjoyably ambiguous) psychological horror/thriller movie worthy of thoughtful contemplation.

While THE DARK HOURS certainly has its terrifying momments, it lets us down when by the end we are not really sure how much of what has transpired is real or imaginary. It is also a trifle sadistic in its tone, which makes it all the more disturbing and uncomfortable. Kate Greenhouse does a commendable job in the leading role, with good support from Gordon Currie, Aidan Divine, and Iris Graham. I don't mind "twists" in movies; in fact, I Love them...but when they come out of nowhere and make little sense or require immense examination, they aren't as satisfying.