Dark Skies
Dimension Films | Release Date: February 22, 2013
7.2
USER SCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 214 Ratings
USER RATING DISTRIBUTION
Positive:
135
Mixed:
53
Negative:
26
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User Reviews

User scoreBy dateMost helpful
6
theofficeFeb 23, 2013
I'm generally a fan of alien encounter movies and this one is not bad by any means but not that fantastic a thriller either. Unfortunately the "scares" are mainly a few scenes that make you jump. However, I found the story to be fairlyI'm generally a fan of alien encounter movies and this one is not bad by any means but not that fantastic a thriller either. Unfortunately the "scares" are mainly a few scenes that make you jump. However, I found the story to be fairly engaging keeping my interest till the end. What keeps this movie from being a higher score in my opinion is that in comparison to other fantastic alien movies like "Signs" it just falls short in the key aspects of a great suspense/thriller with aliens.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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4
oliver1hMay 7, 2013
Just boring. Offers nothing new to the genre. Some scenes had tension, but overall falls flat. I hope one day they will make something original in the genre, something that offers a new perspective to the subject. The acting was okay, but theJust boring. Offers nothing new to the genre. Some scenes had tension, but overall falls flat. I hope one day they will make something original in the genre, something that offers a new perspective to the subject. The acting was okay, but the whole movie was dragged out to 97 minutes, yet everything could be told in 20 minutes. We only see the aliens 5 minutes, and their motivations are totally unclear (they are extraterrestrials so we are not supposed to understand it...but I think their actions should make at least some sense. They can build space ships to travel light years, yet they pranking and scaring humans...) Not recommended.… Expand
1 of 2 users found this helpful11
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5
GabiiRRSJun 4, 2013
It’s the kind of movie you watch, enjoy and then forget about its existence. The suspense is well maintained, and the ending has a nice twist, I would recommend it for those days you have nothing better to do and wanna spend the whole dayIt’s the kind of movie you watch, enjoy and then forget about its existence. The suspense is well maintained, and the ending has a nice twist, I would recommend it for those days you have nothing better to do and wanna spend the whole day watching movies.… Expand
1 of 2 users found this helpful11
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5
Nesbitt10May 25, 2013
The ingredients are delivered without much style of flair, and the results of the movie makes for a pretty bland dish. Stewart does possesses talent--but he just hasn't created a satisfying film with it. In all three instances "Priest"The ingredients are delivered without much style of flair, and the results of the movie makes for a pretty bland dish. Stewart does possesses talent--but he just hasn't created a satisfying film with it. In all three instances "Priest" (2011), "Legion" (2012) and now "Dark Skies." The potential for a compelling story line and terror is there--but not achieved to satisfaction.

In the Barrett household, something is seriously amiss. Is it that unemployed architect Daniel (Hamilton) is quietly panicked about finding a job while the mortgage bills pile up? That his marriage to Lacy (Keri Russell) is falling apart, turning their two sons (Dakota Goyo, Kadan Rockett) into stress cases? The wife is trying to pick up the financial slack of her laid-off architect husband (Josh Hamilton) by working as a real estate agent. Their two young sons start to notice odd things happening around the house. Things like snatching photos from frames--and eventually moving on in for their real goal--a child snatching. The audience has too much time to wonder why are the aliens here to bother playing tricks on this suburban family.The biggest problem with "Dark Skies" is that Stewart can never quite decide what story he is telling a slow-burn horror parable, or paranoid invasion flick? Whether to focus on this character or that one while struggling to string together scares. Regardless, the pacing is tedious and boring--and the action is almost non-existant. Though it is saved in part by the performances of Russell and Hamilton, with a effective supporting turn by J.K. Simmons. The clouded storytelling in "Dark Skies" keeps the film from becoming more than a bunch of disjointed moments, and eventually settles for a ridiculous conclusion.… Expand
0 of 2 users found this helpful02
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6
HaithamBayazeedApr 14, 2013
Good, scary but poor pacing and poor VFX but good scary as hell time!
0 of 1 users found this helpful01
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5
raporgiJun 15, 2017
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Signs and Paranormal Activity had a baby. Its a retread plain and simple. the aliens are kinda lame and the budget shows. the breadcrumb trail of the alien presence isnt very interesting, not enough weird hooks like in Signs to lead the viewer along. It also ends like Signs without the aliens having a weakness. its just fair… Expand
0 of 3 users found this helpful03
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5
KMarinerApr 25, 2014
Just watched the final thirty minutes of Dark Skies. That was enough. My immediate thought at the conclusion was this is an extremely edited version of the first 3 episodes of the 2002 Taken series. One of the pivotal characters even has theJust watched the final thirty minutes of Dark Skies. That was enough. My immediate thought at the conclusion was this is an extremely edited version of the first 3 episodes of the 2002 Taken series. One of the pivotal characters even has the same name, physical stature and age as the former. Some suspense, however if you're one of those who likes everything tied up in a bow, you WILL be disappointed. The only thing more terrifying than the suggestion of what happens after the conclusion, is that the writer(s) figured, "I'll wait 10 years shorten it down to 2 hours, release it as a feature(?) motion picture, collect 20M and call it a day." I'm surprised somebody wasn't knocking on they're door. Steven? You be the judge. K… Expand
0 of 1 users found this helpful01
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4
ThegodfathersonApr 8, 2013
Yay! We have crappy effects with horror mixup! Good for you! I think Dark Skies wasn't really worth it. It's bland and boring nothing too dazzling about a stupid horrible family. Aliens! No just CROWS. CROWS make damage to your house and takeYay! We have crappy effects with horror mixup! Good for you! I think Dark Skies wasn't really worth it. It's bland and boring nothing too dazzling about a stupid horrible family. Aliens! No just CROWS. CROWS make damage to your house and take over the skies. Cool and bad.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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5
BrianMcCriticJun 4, 2013
This film is OK but there is nothing new or overly inventive here. This film is not a bad watch, but they basically take different things from other invasion movies and they turn it into this film.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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5
Mk_UltraJul 18, 2013
Not at all is this movie bad, but its not great either. The movie is slow but that's how it gets its effect on the target audience. Its certainly better than most pg-13 movies out there. The acting is average from all accept Keri Russell sheNot at all is this movie bad, but its not great either. The movie is slow but that's how it gets its effect on the target audience. Its certainly better than most pg-13 movies out there. The acting is average from all accept Keri Russell she does a great job. Definitely worth a watch if your interested in extraterrestrials.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
bfoore90Nov 14, 2020
Dark Skies is quite unsettling and disturbing that plays more like a psychological thriller than a horror film. It burrows alot from films like Signs, Paranormal Activity and Poltergeist but it doesn't quite hit it out of the park as well.Dark Skies is quite unsettling and disturbing that plays more like a psychological thriller than a horror film. It burrows alot from films like Signs, Paranormal Activity and Poltergeist but it doesn't quite hit it out of the park as well. The performances are all very good and there's jump scares and shock moments but its an okay film. It would have been alot better if it were an episode of the X-Files or Supernatural but for what it was, it was mostly okay.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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4
Meth-dudeJun 12, 2019
While it does explore some interesting themes and it gives a fairly original twist to your average alien invasion flick, it's still a very average horror/Sci-fi movie. With very average acting performances, awful CGI effects, a predictableWhile it does explore some interesting themes and it gives a fairly original twist to your average alien invasion flick, it's still a very average horror/Sci-fi movie. With very average acting performances, awful CGI effects, a predictable script and a laughably bad ending, Dark Skies might appeal to the ones that are looking for a fun time, but if you're looking for a scary horror movie, you'll be sorely disappointed.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
emeraldcitySep 5, 2014
In an ocean of horrible movies this horrible movie wasn't really all that bad by comparison. I am interested in UFO's and I am curious to hear what other people have to say about them etc. I don't know if I believe that people are abducted byIn an ocean of horrible movies this horrible movie wasn't really all that bad by comparison. I am interested in UFO's and I am curious to hear what other people have to say about them etc. I don't know if I believe that people are abducted by them and this films basically about UFO abductions. There was a crispness to the film that I put down to the new technology used to shoot movies today. I thought the ending was a bit weak and it seemed that the family was subsequently being investigated after one of their sons disappears at the end. That created a funny ending. Not ha ha funny-weird funny. I think it is better to be less obvious when dealing with this type of subject matter-the film was a bit too obvious. Like they say, a good movie is 'a slice of life.' It was that.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
tethysdustJan 29, 2017
Interesting mash-up of some standard horror tropes with alien abduction. It had its tense moments, but it felt a bit incomplete by the end. It seems set up for a Dark Skies 2.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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4
SquintyReviewsSep 18, 2015
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This had great premise to start out with, and hte acting was decent (Keri Russell plays a better Keri Russell here) but it was saddled with a weak story and abundance of cliche's that doesn't know how to use it.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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5
DawdlingPoetNov 28, 2021
This is a sci-fi thriler film, with horror elements and it covers themes including jobs interviews, abductions and blackouts. The film has a pretty obvious spooky, somewhat sinister, ghostly feel to it, with scenes (certainly after the firstThis is a sci-fi thriler film, with horror elements and it covers themes including jobs interviews, abductions and blackouts. The film has a pretty obvious spooky, somewhat sinister, ghostly feel to it, with scenes (certainly after the first one or two) mostly in the dark and a chilly sounding music played in the background to unsettle viewers. However, the lack of a clear plot meant that I didn't really 'buy it', not being sure quite what was supposed to be going on, let alone why. As events slowly develop, it reminded me a bit of films such as Poltergeist or the Paranormal Activity films, as strange things happen within the house, as if targetting the family living there but there is little to see, visually, to scare us, as such, for the most part. There is a pretty strong sense of foreboding but (pardon the pun) I didn't especially like being in the dark as to the specifics of what may be around said next corner.

I did, however, feel a bit frustrated by the attitude shown by the police during the plot - I won't elaborate for fear of providing spoilers. I also found myself feeling suspicious about various family members due to their behaviour and some plot aspects, so I suppose it was relatively good at providing a mysterious and tense atmosphere.

Cast wise, the wife, Lacy Barrett, is played by Keri Russel and the husband, Daniel Barrett, is played by Josh Hamilton, while son Sam Barrett is played by Kadan Rockett and Jesse is played by Dakota Goyo. I don't think I'm familiar with their work - the film did have a bit of a 'b movie' feel to it but thats not to say it was awful, although I don't imagine it had an excessively high budget to play with. The only cast member I recognised from other film cast lists was J.K. Simmons, who plays Edwin Pollard.

Content wise, the film contains sex related content, moderate violence including gun related violence, fist fights and self inflicted injury and some moderately strong language. There are scenes indicating drug use happens but we're not shown in any detail it actually being consumed. Otherwise, as I've mentioned previously, the film has quite a lingering sinister or mysterious tone to it and there are some sudden events which happen, that could fairly easily frighten young, child viewers. This film is very much a supernatural type of horror/thriller - I wouldn't say its especially scary to/for adults but it could pretty easily unsettle young kids. The film has been given a 15 rating due to said content.

The main idea behind this film is far from original and while its decently spooky, its not an especially memorable film. I liked some aspects of it but wasn't impressed by others and I suppose overall I'd have to go for a middle of the road, 3 star rating. I also felt that the ending left the viewer with unanswered questions, which can be quite frustrating for some.

I wouldn't say this is one of the better examples of this type of film but it isn't awful either. Its not bad, its intriguing and is quite tense but it isn't as chilly or sinister as other similar films I've come across before. Its alright, worth a watch, yes but I'm not sure I'd go out of my way to encourage people to pay money to see it, so think of this as a decent enough watch if it comes on TV but otherwise not especially worth shelling out much money for. Some people may enjoy this more than others, as it depends on if your keen on this style of film, very much along the lines of Paranormal Activity - indeed the film was made by producers of said Paranormal Activity films, so I believe. If it sounds right up your street then yes I would recommend it but otherwise not so much, so I guess ill opt for undecided as middle ground.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
atabeyordekciAug 18, 2021
As the Barrett family's peaceful suburban life is rocked by an escalating series of disturbing events, they come to learn that a terrifying and deadly force is after them, one which may have arrived from beyond the stars. (6)
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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