Customer Reviews

Darkness (Unrated Version)

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(37)
2 star:		(29)
1 star:		(77)

 

 

'Darkness' is a Spanish film made back in 2002, with the cast -- Anna Paquin, Lena Olin, Iain Glen, Fele Martinez, and Giancarlo Giannini. The Spanish director Jaume Balaguero may be remembered with his previous film 'The Nameless' of which critical success led to the production of this film.

THE STORY is about an American girl Regina (Paquin), whose family moved to the suburb of a certain city in Spain. Her father (Glen) experienced nervous breakdown leading a busy life in America, and his wife (Olin) thought it best for him and the entire family to leave anything behind, and come to this quiet place with two children, Regina and her younger brother Paul (Stephen Enquist).

But one day, amid a heavy traffic jam, Regina's father starts to suffer from the disease again. And at the same time things begin to get weird. Paul starts to think someone is in the house while his daddy, once back from hospital, again acts strangely ... this time, perhaps not because of the disease. And Regina's grandfather (Giannini) seems to know something about the gloomy house where she lives, or something more.

FIRST, THE BEST THING ABOUT THE FILM is its photography by Xavi Gimenez (see the unique thriller 'Intacto'). In spite of confusing script, the cinematography of 'Darkness' stands on its own, always conveying the spooky atmosphere, created with the subtle and effective contrast between light and darkness. It is very good to convince you of the presence of the evil lurking behind the curtain.

The film's plot is good in the first half, but an unlucky coincidence does not help. As you know, the US viewers have already seen a horror film 'Darkness Falls' with which 'Darkness' shares the universal fear coming from darkess. And the origin of the darkness (or its fear) differs, the secrets of 'Darkess' is as predictable as those of the other film, and this makes a bad sign from the beginning.

And in the second half, the film, trying to surprise us more, actually becomes confusing, fraught with heavy-handed symbolism which is not difficult to interpret if you just notice they are there. Moreover, at least to the horror fans like me, the scares themselves are not effectively shown, with now cliched tricks, and the final chapter is simply unbelievable, or too 'good' (or bad) to be true.

But the most regrettable thing about 'Darkness' is the acting, which are, quite frankly, below average. Overacting all around, from Olin and Glen in particular, the film is filled with those characters yelling and shouting, all of whom you wish were gone. I finally thought -- Please, please, stop them.

Atomospheric 'Darkness' is shot with considerable visual skills, but lacks the credible acting of Nicole Kidman in 'The Others.' If you like something beautiful and different -- whatever the meaning of difference might be, this may be the one for you. Otherwise, see 'The Others' again.

I'm surprised at the bad reviews; when I saw this in the theater a few months ago I thought it was "almost" as scary as some of the better horror movies in recent years. I guess that's the problem; "The Ring," "The Others," "Boogeyman," etc. have just spoiled us with good quality. If "Darkness" had been made 15 years ago it would be considered one of the best horror movies of it's time. Now it just can't compete. There are a few scenes that should be shocking but don't quite come off, but as a whole it is effective - fright is built up gradually with atmospherics such as a creepy picture on the wall, etc. I think if you like the above mentioned films but just can't get enough, "Darkness" will hold you over until the next classic comes out. And I'll say this much for it: I saw the new version of "The Amityville Horror" last week and by comparison "Darkness" is at least 20-30% scarier.

First off, I have spent a bit of time glancing at many of the reviews on this website. I find many of them unfair and lacking evidence to state their cases. In my opinion, I just don't think that some people put the effort into understanding this movie as they should have done.

If you pay VERY close attention to the story line, the terror of it is insurmountable. The effect of the story is very conveying, weighing down on your mind and ultimately, sending a chill down your spine. Sure, this plot line may have been seen a million times before. But, in this day and age, what is original anymore?

Another set of complaints was how the cast was terrible. I will concede that the cast could have been a bit better acted. But, hey, it works. The cast's acting did nothing to draw attention away from the central story line. Sorry if all film companies can't hire actors like Sarah Michelle Gellar or anything. This is the best that they can do everyone. Cut them a little slack.

As the old saying goes, "don't judge a book by it's cover." This is very true in regards to this movie. If you just look on the surface of the movie, sure, you are going to hate it. But, if you take the time to look inwards and see the terrifying plot that lies within, I guarantee that you will find this movie rather enjoyable.

Thank you very much for your time and consideration.

The main problem I have with DARKNESS is that it feels so incomplete, as though half of the story was left out. I love the blackened mood and overwhelming sense of doom and dread, it's just that it seems to lead up to a disappointing finalé. If more time had been spent on developing the history underlying the house, the cult, and their child victims, the strength and depth of the story would have carried the horror elements. Of course, the movie would have been longer by maybe 30-60 minutes, but it would have been a lot better for it. As it stands, DARKNESS is a half-baked film full of untapped potential that never quite terrifies. I wish people would stop trying to cram everything into 90 minutes, even when more time is absolutely necessary! AAAARGG!!...

Fear is an individual thing as far as what scares the soul in us to such a degree that it will continue to haunt us long after we witness it, or in this case, the movie. It seems that from reading the reviews here that the notion of 'fear' is so diverse that we can basically place them into two groups. First we have the new wave horror thriller type movies that the current generation of youngsters seems to relate to and rave about like Soul Survivors or Urban Legends where the fear is forced upon you for the purpose of creating excitement to the paying viewers. The filming angles is an obvious giveaway, like the victims hope you get scared as well. Thus the terror just doesn't seem real at all but since these kids have grown accustomed to the type of horror where blood gore and half nude sexy girls is the requirement on the menu to wet your pallet, then it is good enough. Second is the type of terror that knows how to tap within our fears where there are no boundaries as it grows until the climax is ultimately reach but it will continue on. Your body and mind will feel that blood chilling and un-nerving fear, that you will not be able to go to sleep without worrying what might happen next long after witnessing it. Thus the nightmares begins. This is horror in that old school tradition where our fear are genuine, pure and simple.

Genuine horror is something that youngsters have find difficult to grasp because they are incapable to understand the true nature of fear. They are expecting to be force fed with an onslaught of chills and excitement to satisfy their brainwash pallets so they won't feel rip off for spending money to see it. Fear has a price that money can't touch. We have boat loads of bad movies in the name of horror. If viewers don't get what they expect, then they will complain that it was not scary enough or at all, or it don't make sense...yada yada blah. They just don't get it.

With that said, this movie did scare me and it stayed with me long after. Great atmospherics feel due to the outstanding cinematography. Jaume Balagueno knows what he is doing because he understands inner fear and applies it, without Hollywood telling him what to do or else. The quiet star in this movie, Anna Paguin, was spectacular as she tries to discover the underlining dark secrets from the past. Underrated as an actress, she showcase her true expressions here that will have you believing...very authentic. Her looks is made for horror movies but as the victim unfortunately. The latest Amityville Horror remake with overdone CGI was disappointing to say the least...they can learn a thing or two from Darkness.

I do recommend Darkness if you are a true fan of horror who can appreciate what fear is and is not. It will creep the daylights out of you when you least expected and stir your mind influx......not forced upon just to see you jump. Keep in mind, this is not a great horror movie but it is one of the better ones that i haven't seen in a long time and has the making to become a classic. The 'Spotlight Reviews' above, more or less, understand what i am talking about. If you really want to see top notch horror of the supernatural at its finest, then check out Rosemary's Baby which i also wrote a review here. It will put you in a state of fear for a long while after you see it because it will change you. In fact, you might think twice before viewing it because not everyone can handle the evil terror that awaits. Just set up your home theater 5 way speaker system to a nice setting, turn out the lights and be prepared. Your journey into the world of fear is about to begin.

Forty years ago, something awful happened at the house. One child escaped, too traumatized to remember anything. The others were never found.

Now an American family moves into the Spanish country estate, which is plagued by unexplainable electrical problems. Then more frightening things begin to occur. Teenaged Regina (Anna Paquin - X-MEN) immediately suspects that something is wrong with the house. Her little brother is making disturbing drawings in his sketchbook, and bruises have appeared on his body with no discernible cause. Her mother (Lena Olin - ROMEO IS BLEEDING) believes there is a mundane explanation and writes her daughter's behavior off as normal teen angst, and in any case she has her hands full with her husband, whose previously dormant mental illness is resurfacing. Objects move by themselves; specters lurk in the shadows.

Yes, it's pretty cliché in a lot of ways. The script isn't particularly sharp, and there's some terrible acting by the actor who plays the father. What saves it is its very stylish direction and a thoroughly convincing performance by Paquin. (Her fans will want to see this film regardless, as she is front and center for the entire picture - emphasis on the "front.") I liked the film's subtlety and deliberate pacing, and its, ah, dark ending. A nice twist (no, they're not all dead) and a few chills here and there, too.

Extras on the DVD include a brief (under four minutes) behind-the-scenes featurette, as well as trailers for this film, SIN CITY and CURSED.

DARKNESS sat on the shelf for a couple years before finally being released to theatres under the radar in 2004. I don't think it deserved this fate, as much worse movies have been brought out without any kind of delay. It's somewhat derivative but has enough redeeming aspects to make it worth watching.

Speaking as a veteran of many horror films, I find myself unable to comprehend the low ratings this film receives. My only regret about watching Darkness is the fact that I saw the rated rather than the unrated version. The film is a little less than perfect, but it is, without question, one of the creepiest films I've ever seen. In my opinion, Jaume Balaquero is the most exciting horror director working today. Like The Nameless, Darkness is a visual masterpiece of cinematography - although Balaquero probably tried a little bit too hard with this film. All of the random visuals are a little overdone, the movie drags a little longer than it should have for maximum effect, and the ending is - most unfortunately - far too ambiguous, but Balaquero knows horror - how to approach it and how to present it.

It's amazing how effective the haunted house motif still remains - as long as it's done right, incredible things are possible. Apart from the ending, this film is done absolutely right. The house in question here is inherently evil and most definitely haunted - although, as in real life, the greatest dangers to the innocent are men with evil in their hearts. Forty years ago, six children disappeared, but one escaped - although he could not remember enough to help the cops catch the evildoers. Now, forty years later, a family has moved into the gloomy house where the crimes took place - but only the children sense the danger lurking there. Young Paul retreats within himself and begins showing unexplained bruises around his neck, while teenaged daughter Regina (Anna Paquin) picks up on the evil presence and tries to protect her brother; the parents are less than useless. Mark, the dad, has some kind of seizure and then begins changing in ways that beg for a straightjacket, and all the while the mom just tells everyone not to worry. Regina and her boyfriend do some investigating and discover the true history of the house, its evil design and ritualistic intent, but their search takes Regina places she would never have dreamed of going. It's all pretty much up to her, though, as her parents won't listen to her and poor Paul is helplessly haunted by the ghosts of several evil children. Darkness comes with a nice little bundle of surprises; not only did the story take a couple of turns I didn't foresee, it had me guessing about other possible surprises.

The cinematography of this film is brilliant and the true secret of its palpable creepiness. You'll be looking at a dark room and then a lightning strike will silhouette these creepy children just standing there; you've got shadows that move just outside the peripheral vision of characters; and periodic sets of random, disturbing images also contribute greatly to the overall effect. These latter scenes are used too often in the latter half of the film, but it's a minor quibble at best. The only thing wrong with the movie is the ending, which is just too ambiguous to satisfy anyone. Darkness does not have a five-star story, but it's just so incredibly creepy that I cannot give it less than five stars overall. Anna Paquin proves more than capable of carrying the film single-handedly whenever she needs to. In my opinion, Darkness ranks right up there among the creepiest horror films made in the last two decades - now I just have to get my hands on the unrated version.

We rented this film because The Boogeyman was out....which turned out to be almost as bad as this one. I assumed that an Anna Paquin film would be a good one. I think she made this one to fulfill a contract. It took forever to build up to what was a very let down of a climax. It made little sense. My biggest question was, if they moved to spain, how come no one speaks spanish and there are very few spanish accents? This movie never even made me flinch. Looking back, I wish we had shut it off. I am critical of scary movies, but watched it with two friends who are are much more forgiving than I am. By the end of the first hour, we turned it into an audience participation film..."No....don't run up the stairs!"

Spoiler: Don't read further if you don't want to know the ending. Supposedly, the ghost characters can only exist in the dark. Funny how one of them impersonates another character and drives off with Anna Paquin and her little brother in the very end. They go into a dark tunnel, so we know what happens to them, but how was the ghost able to be in the light in the first place? Was there no script editor on set?

I Personally I have no idea why people hate this film, i liked it for the story it had . A family that moves from the Good Old USA to Spain nice storyline so far then strange things start happening. I guess the People who disliked it have seen quite a more horror flicks than me and probably are a tad jaded when it comes expecting bloody gore , skin which i don't mind either , but i found this to be quite refreshing and the photography is just excellent. the actors are casted perfect in their roles . it has a mild scare factor so if you're looking for an ultra scary film you might be disappointed. Anna Paquin plays her part well that of a teen who is having the move blues and blames her parents about moving away from her friends and things that she knows so it's typical but
fun still.

I remember jumping out of my skin at the though of seeing this movie right before it came out because the trailer seems awesome. Well, I think that's all that was to it. I can honestly say that even after seeing this movie on regular tv, for free, I feel cheated!
There was nothing at all creepy or scary, and the big deal that was made of the darkness has literally left me in the dark with the story. The whole idea behind the missing children and the strange occurrences in the house were not explained in depth and
I am rarely so critical of a movie that I will muster to write a negative review about it.

Perhaps I wish that I saw the reviews here first and skipped the lost hours of my life I spent watching this. It's pretty obvious why you can get it used for a dollar, but don't waste your buck.

This movie left me with nothing in the end as I sat there staring at the screen, expecting it to be a joke. Perhaps good movies seem like a normal thing today, not a luxury but this has to be just as bad as another movie I recomment NOT watching ; Ring around the Rosie, awful, stupid and pointless. I can't even tell you if my life depended on it what this movie was about and what point it had!

I hate to say it but this was not even remotely scary and I think it drained some brain cells because I cant shake off the fact that I didn't turn this off half way though. It would seriously have no impact on the story in my head. I was also not impressed by the lack luster performance by Paquin, yeah, hopefully she learned from this fiasco.

Bottom line: NOTHING happens. Waste of time, sadly, but not recommended.