Alone in the Dark (2005)

A detective of the paranormal slowly unravels mysterious events with deadly results.

Director:

Uwe Boll

Writers:

Elan Mastai, Michael Roesch

Stars:

Christian Slater, Tara Reid, Stephen Dorff

Bottom Rated Movies #13 | 4 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Christian Slater	...	Edward Carnby
Tara Reid	...	Aline Cedrac
Stephen Dorff	...	Cmdr. Richard Burke
Frank C. Turner	...	Sam Fischer
Matthew Walker	...	Prof. Lionel Hudgens
Will Sanderson	...	Agent Miles
Mark Acheson	...	Captain Chernick (as Mark Atcheson)
Darren Shahlavi	...	John Dillon
Karin Konoval	...	Sister Clara
Craig Bruhnanski	...	80's Sheriff (as Craig Brunanski)
Kwesi Ameyaw	...	Deputy Adams
Dustyn Arthurs	...	Young Edward
Catherine Lough Haggquist	...	Krash
Ed Anders	...	James Pinkerton
Brad Turner	...	Beat Cop

Storyline

Edward Carnby, detective of the paranormal, unexplained and supernatural, investigates a mystery (the recent death of a friend) with clues leading to "Shadow Island" that brings him face to face with bizarre horrors that prove both psychologically disturbing and lethal, as he discovers that evil demons worshiped by an ancient culture called the Abskani are planning on coming back to life in the 21st century to once again take over the world... and only he and a young genius anthropologist with an incredible memory (and his ex-girlfriend), Aline Cedrac, stand in their way, at a gateway to hell. Standing in Carnby's way, however, is the impact that a brief encounter with an evil spirit called the Queen had upon his mind, as he slowly finds himself overpowered by the forces of darkness as they eat away at his very sanity...

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Plot Keywords:

bad acting | monster movie | rocket launcher | based on video game | bad movie | 

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Taglines:

Evil awakens.

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Genres:

Action | Horror | Sci-Fi

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence and language

Did You Know?

Trivia

The lengthy opening text crawl was added after numerous test audience members said they were confused by the plot.

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Goofs

Set in California, but a Bank of Montreal building and a Canada Post box appear repeatedly. A Scotia Bank is visible in the last scene.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Prof. Lionel Hudgens: [narrating] In 1967, mine workers discovered the first remnants of a long lost Native American civilization - The Abkani. The Abkani believed that there are two worlds on this planet, a world of light and a world of darkness. 10,000 years ago the Abkani opened a gate between these worlds. Before they could close it, something evil slipped through. The Abkani mysteriously vanished from the Earth. Only a few artifacts remained, hidden in the world's most remote places. These artifacts...

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Alternate Versions

The German DVD release of the Director's Cut has additional gore scenes (e.g. Miles is now brutally killed on screen instead off screen as seen in the theatrical version) and a new martial arts fight scene. The love scene between Christian Slater and Tara Reid has been removed.

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Connections

Featured in Nostalgia Critic: Is it Right to Nitpick? (2013)

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Soundtracks

Wish I Had an Angel
Performed by Nightwish
Music & Words by Tuomas Holopainen
Published by Hanseatic / Warner Chappell
Courtesy of Nuclear Blast

User Reviews

How NOT to direct a film.

Can it ever be said that there are some movies that have no redeeming features whatsoever? Answer: Yes, and this is one of them. After helming the appalling 'House of the Dead' director Uwe Boll has now cast his less-than-talented eye towards yet another video game adaptation. Don't these guys get it? To anyone who can't understand, here it is in block capitals for you: VIDEO GAMES DO NOT MAKE FOR GOOD MOVIES! The acting here is, at best, sub-standard. The set design and special effects are poor. Unlike the video game (which did have its scary moments) the movie has no atmosphere of impending doom, no sense of danger or menace. Pacing and plotting is confused and the paper that the script is printed on would have been better used as toilet paper. The main culprit is the director. Uwe Boll uses the camera with the grace and skill of a monkey using a paintbrush. Hackneyed zooms, swoops and pans are spliced into the whole dreary affair at unpredictable moments leaving the audience disorientated and bored. Why this guy was ever let near a movie set in the first place must stand as one of modern cinemas greatest secrets. Avoid at all costs.

Details

Country:

Canada Germany USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 January 2005 (USA)

Also Known As:

Alone in the Dark

Filming Locations:

British Columbia, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$20,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$2,834,421, 30 January 2005

Gross USA:

$5,178,569

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$12,693,645

Company Credits

Production Co:

AITD Productions, Boll Kino Beteiligungs GmbH & Co. KG, Herold Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min 99 min (Unrated Director's Cut) 94 min (edited)

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS DTS-ES (DVD release) Dolby Digital EX (DVD release)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1