A teenage girl moves into a remote countryside house with her family, only to discover that their gloomy new home has a horrifying past that threatens to destroy the family.
5 years after a mom's 6 y.o. girl is murdered, she gets a phone call from someone claiming to be the daughter. An ex cop and a reporter help. A secret group called The Nameless may be behind it all.
Director:
Jaume Balagueró
Stars:
Emma Vilarasau,
Karra Elejalde,
Tristán Ulloa
After the suicide of her beloved father, the biologist Daniella Logan visits her catatonic mother in a mental institution to tell the tragic event and her mother calls her "Josephine". ... See full summary »
Mario and his pregnant girlfriend Clara are trying to find in a short period a new apartment to live since they have sold their apartment and they need to move in fifteen days. When Mario ... See full summary »
In mourning over the tragic drowning of their daughter Sarah, James and Adèle are visited by Ebrill, a young girl who claims she died 60 years ago - and bears a startling resemblance to Sarah.
A grieving English literature professor who is suffering from a horrible recurring nightmare will soon find himself immersed in a macabre world of myth and superstition governed by a coven of seven malevolent women.
In 1985, in a coastal town, the friends Koldo, Peti, Tito, Eugenio and Moni stumble with a woman dressed like Santa Claus trapped in a hole in the woods. While to boys go to the police ... See full summary »
Director:
Paco Plaza
Stars:
Maru Valdivielso,
Christian Casas,
Roger Babià
An uproar is caused when some mutilated cadavers are discovered, giving way to the legend of the "Werewolf of Allariz". A traveling vendor rolls through the forest in his old wagon. A woman... See full summary »
A vengeful spirit has taken the form of the Tooth Fairy to exact vengeance on the town that lynched her 150 years earlier. Her only opposition is the only child, now grown up, who has survived her before.
Director:
Jonathan Liebesman
Stars:
Chaney Kley,
Emma Caulfield Ford,
Antony Burrows
There's something in this house... Something ancient and dark that remains still, hidden and silent. It can only wait, having been concealed in the shadows for years. In fact, its milieu is darkness. Only in it can it show itself and move. It even takes its name: DARKNESS. It's lived here since someone tried to call it, more than forty years ago. Because this house hides a secret, a terrible past, an inconceivably evil act... Seven children, faceless people, a circle that must be completed. And blood, lots of blood...Written by
Anonymous
Miramax/Dimension had paid $4 million for the rights to distribute the movie in North America and some other territories, but then shelved it for more than two years. The company gave the film a US theatrical release at Christmas 2004 after heavy editing to secure a PG-13 rating. See more »
Goofs
When Paul lines up his colored pencils a crew members hand can be seen with an air nozzle ready to make the pencil roll under the bed. See more »
The following scenes were cut for the US theatrical version:
After Maria (Lena Olin) and Regina (Anna Paquin) talk at the breakfast table about unpacking, there is extra dialogue in which Regina admits she hasn't decided if she is staying or not. Interestingly, Dimension cut all references to the family have these kind of domestic issues with the daughter.
Following the first scene at the swimming pool, there is a brief scene where Regina is visited by her boyfriend Carlos ('Fele Martinez') in the girls' locker room. They talk briefly about him coming over and she chastises him for sneaking into the locker room. A girl walks by in the background in a towel and no nudity is in the scene. When Mark (Iain Glen) is driving Paul (Stephan Enquist) to school, Paul asks, "Are you and Mom going to split up?" Mark responds by saying that "only families that don't get along split up."
After Mark arrives home from the hospital, Regina has an argument with her mom on the front porch. The US version edits a section of dialogue where the mom says, "If you don't like it here than you can just get your things together and go."
Following this fight, Regina visits Carlos in his apartment. She tells him about the argument while he develops photographs.
Following her father's row with the electrician, there is an extra scene where Regina returns to her room where Carlos is painting. He surprises her by taking a photograph (during the flash the ghost children are seen; it figures in later). She says to him, "I'm staying." When Carlos asks why, Regina tells him not to ask her and only says, "I can't leave now."
Regina and Carlos have additional dialogue before the scene where she tells him about her father condition at the swimming pool. She reiterates that he shouldn't ask her what is going on.
During Mark's second attack when he begins cutting the potatoes franticly with the knife, there are a series of flashes back to his past. After he cuts his hand, there are several close ups of the bloody hand and blood dripping onto the floor.
Two extra scenes appear back to back. One has Regina and Carlos in front of a computer looking up information and discovering "Ouroboros" and a website outlining some of the ritual. The other has the architect discovering the original letter with the design plans of the house while he is digging through papers. The US version cuts straight to Carlos and Regina in the library.
I knew nothing about this film until I stumbled across it while reading reviews for another movie. So, I checked out what people were saying, and having read so many mixed reviews on it, I had to see it for myself. I love scary movies...always have. And I'm a particular fan of any movie that can bring back that feeling of terror one experiences as a child...whether from watching movies, or fearing the ever-present monsters in the closet. At times, this movie was able to do that.
Darkness starts out strong, grabbing you in out of sheer morbid curiosity. Throughout, there are moments of profound creepiness quite similar to the flashes of the twin daughters in The Shining. Actually, this movie has some similarities to the old classic, although it falls far short of what the Shining was able to accomplish.
There are some drawbacks to this movie. The acting is, well, not entirely believable. And, in my opinion, Paquin is not at her best in this movie. Many of the lines fall flat and have you sitting there scratching your head goin "huh?" These moments come quite frequently when watching the dialogue between Mother and Daughter...it simply isn't believable. The other main drawback is the copout explanation of events. Like with many horror films, the movie starts out strong with an intriguing storyline, only to have the writers throw together a flittery, half-witted explanation to everything. Darkness follows that formula to a T, unfortunately.
However, amongst the drawbacks are moments of great potential and overall eeriness that is missing in many of today's films. Also, the ending in and of itself is a breath of fresh air in comparison to the stereotypical hollywood ending found in far too many movies.
Had I spent $8 on this film, I probably would have been disappointed and wanted my money back. However, this is definitely worth a rental cost...especially for a "horror movie night" or a teens sleepover. Don't expect a great one...but don't expect a dud either.
If you're looking for jumps and that creepy feeling reminiscent of a childhood fear of the dark, this is the movie for you.
Overall, I give this ***1/2 out of five.
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I knew nothing about this film until I stumbled across it while reading reviews for another movie. So, I checked out what people were saying, and having read so many mixed reviews on it, I had to see it for myself. I love scary movies...always have. And I'm a particular fan of any movie that can bring back that feeling of terror one experiences as a child...whether from watching movies, or fearing the ever-present monsters in the closet. At times, this movie was able to do that.
Darkness starts out strong, grabbing you in out of sheer morbid curiosity. Throughout, there are moments of profound creepiness quite similar to the flashes of the twin daughters in The Shining. Actually, this movie has some similarities to the old classic, although it falls far short of what the Shining was able to accomplish.
There are some drawbacks to this movie. The acting is, well, not entirely believable. And, in my opinion, Paquin is not at her best in this movie. Many of the lines fall flat and have you sitting there scratching your head goin "huh?" These moments come quite frequently when watching the dialogue between Mother and Daughter...it simply isn't believable. The other main drawback is the copout explanation of events. Like with many horror films, the movie starts out strong with an intriguing storyline, only to have the writers throw together a flittery, half-witted explanation to everything. Darkness follows that formula to a T, unfortunately.
However, amongst the drawbacks are moments of great potential and overall eeriness that is missing in many of today's films. Also, the ending in and of itself is a breath of fresh air in comparison to the stereotypical hollywood ending found in far too many movies.
Had I spent $8 on this film, I probably would have been disappointed and wanted my money back. However, this is definitely worth a rental cost...especially for a "horror movie night" or a teens sleepover. Don't expect a great one...but don't expect a dud either.
If you're looking for jumps and that creepy feeling reminiscent of a childhood fear of the dark, this is the movie for you.
Overall, I give this ***1/2 out of five.