The Dark Tapes (2016)

A genre-defying mixture of horror, sci-fi, myth, mystery and thrills told as four interlocking tales in one intelligent anthology. Ghosts, spirits, creatures, demons and more from the paranormal world collide with rational curiosity.

Directors:

Michael McQuown, Vincent J. Guastini

Writer:

Michael McQuown

Stars:

David Banks, Sara Castro, Cortney Palm

17 wins & 21 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
David Banks	...	Sam (segment "Wrap Around")
Sara Castro	...	Marie (segment "Wrap Around")
Cortney Palm	...	Nicole (segment "To Catch a Demon")
David Rountree	...	Martin (segment "To Catch a Demon")
Matt Magnusson	...	Jason (segment "To Catch a Demon")
Ryan Allan Young	...	Demon (segment "To Catch a Demon")
Shawn Lockie	...	Karen (segment "The Hunter & the Hunted")
Stephen Zimpel	...	David (segment "The Hunter & the Hunted")
Jo Galloway	...	Susan (segment "The Hunter & the Hunted")
Clint Keepin	...	Cameron (segment "The Hunter & the Hunted")
Jonathan Biver	...	Geoff (segment "The Hunter & the Hunted")
Brittany Fisheli	...	Ashen (segment "The Hunter & the Hunted")
Emilia Ares	...	Caitlin (segment "Cam Girls") (as Emilia Ares Zoryan)
Shane Hartline	...	Eric (segment "Cam Girls")
Anna Rose Moore	...	Sindy (segment "Cam Girls")

Storyline

A genre-defying mixture of horror, sci-fi, myth, mystery and thrills told as four interlocking tales in one intelligent anthology. Ghosts, spirits, creatures, demons and more from the paranormal world collide with rational curiosity.

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Plot Keywords:

found footage | investigation | evil force | mysterious force | experiment | 

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Genres:

Horror | Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official Site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 April 2017 (USA)

Also Known As:

Тёмные киноплёнки

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$65,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Thunder Road Incorporated

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

16:9 HD

Did You Know?

Trivia

Emilia Zoryan Also Appeared in A very similar Found-Footage movie Called, VHS: Viral.

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Goofs

When you have the side view of Amanda you see a camera on the dresser but in the shot from the bottom of the bed it is gone.

User Reviews

Well Worth the Wait

I first found out about the Dark Tapes through a suggested ad on Facebook, and have been following the anticipated release of this title now for a few years. I finally had the opportunity to sit down and watch it, excited for the key-moments in the initial trailer that had piqued my interest.

As a fan of Lovecraftian fiction, I found that this film in particular played on the same themes and ideas that generally play out in any of H.P. Lovecraft's stories: paranormal or unexplained phenomena that is built upon a foundation of almost-scientific transmogrify. In a way, I am reminded of Jonathan Swift's "A Modest Proposal--" albeit, satire-- where an idea or story so profoundly horrific is presented but utilizes empirical factors to present the case, and tie the whole story together.

I'm not typically a fan of the "found-footage" genre of movies, wherein the usual tropes of "jump scares" are overdone time and time again, and the Dark Tapes avoids these played out clichés and focuses solely on the stories which it presents. It attempts to distance itself from other similar titles within the same genre, I feel, and it cements itself as something entirely unique.

Whereas I can understand that this film might not be for everybody-- especially those who have a keen eye for production elements-- if you are someone who enjoys stories and imagery that works to get inside of your head and leaves you asking questions than this movie is definitely for you.

I long anticipated this title, and I was not disappointed; I only hope that there will be more like this in the future.