Rider Strong plays Eric Rainer, a weird and sullen individual who seems to live with his girlfriend and appears to be involved in some kind of ongoing research into UFOlogy, abductions and alien encounters.
When his girlfriend disappears one night, Rainer teams up with 'goth girl next door' Beth (eye candy Danielle Keaton sporting a very annoying fringe) the niece of Rainer's neighbour, Harold, and learns that Beth's boyfriend has also disappeared. Like Rainer, her boyfriend had a scar on his stomach and suffered from strange nightly migraines.
Beth's intense interest in Rainer raises his suspicions and he becomes increasingly paranoid, as do we as flies on the wall in his road accident of a life.
Hard to describe much else without dropping some spoilers since this film is reliant upon the keeps-you-guessing format. Unfortunately the coming plot twists and surprises are far from unpredictable and if you're awake at all while you're watching, you'll probably guess where the story is going long before it gets there.
There's a pedestrian quality to Darkening Sky that tested my patience. Director Victor Bornia is clearly a fan of the dramatic silence and pre-amble, but really the characters are too shallow and lack the charisma essential when presenting quiet, sullen personalities as protagonists.
Production value is medium rare and the sets, special effects and makeup feel and look cheap. Acting from the youthful cast is stilted and a little forced, but nothing you wouldn't expect from ex members of Disney-esque teen dramas like 90210 and Boy Meets World. Performances from the older cast are frankly terrible for a medium budget production. Charley Rossman inappropriately hams it up as Raimer's 'King of the Hill' type neighbour and Suzanne Ford is so unsubtle as Raimer's college professor that she pretty much gives the entire plot away with the few lines that she has.
Overall an average movie that will probably draw viewers who like UFO/alien abduction thrillers but ultimately leave them disappointed.
When his girlfriend disappears one night, Rainer teams up with 'goth girl next door' Beth (eye candy Danielle Keaton sporting a very annoying fringe) the niece of Rainer's neighbour, Harold, and learns that Beth's boyfriend has also disappeared. Like Rainer, her boyfriend had a scar on his stomach and suffered from strange nightly migraines.
Beth's intense interest in Rainer raises his suspicions and he becomes increasingly paranoid, as do we as flies on the wall in his road accident of a life.
Hard to describe much else without dropping some spoilers since this film is reliant upon the keeps-you-guessing format. Unfortunately the coming plot twists and surprises are far from unpredictable and if you're awake at all while you're watching, you'll probably guess where the story is going long before it gets there.
There's a pedestrian quality to Darkening Sky that tested my patience. Director Victor Bornia is clearly a fan of the dramatic silence and pre-amble, but really the characters are too shallow and lack the charisma essential when presenting quiet, sullen personalities as protagonists.
Production value is medium rare and the sets, special effects and makeup feel and look cheap. Acting from the youthful cast is stilted and a little forced, but nothing you wouldn't expect from ex members of Disney-esque teen dramas like 90210 and Boy Meets World. Performances from the older cast are frankly terrible for a medium budget production. Charley Rossman inappropriately hams it up as Raimer's 'King of the Hill' type neighbour and Suzanne Ford is so unsubtle as Raimer's college professor that she pretty much gives the entire plot away with the few lines that she has.
Overall an average movie that will probably draw viewers who like UFO/alien abduction thrillers but ultimately leave them disappointed.