Dark Was the Night

Name: Dark Was the Night
Genre: Drama, Thriller, Horror
Released: July 24, 2015
Duration: 90 min
Rating: 40

2015

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Mixed or average reviews based on 10 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 16 Ratings

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6.0

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6.0	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 16 Ratings

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Dark Was The Night

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Movie Details & Credits

Image Entertainment | Release Date: July 24, 2015 | Not Rated

Summary: Maiden Woods is a remote and quiet town of decent hard-working people, but something stirs in the dark woods surrounding this isolated community. After a logging company decimates an area of the forest, a rash of increasingly violent and unexplainable events transpires. Sheriff Paul Shields (Kevin Durand) and his deputy (Lukas Haas)Maiden Woods is a remote and quiet town of decent hard-working people, but something stirs in the dark woods surrounding this isolated community. After a logging company decimates an area of the forest, a rash of increasingly violent and unexplainable events transpires. Sheriff Paul Shields (Kevin Durand) and his deputy (Lukas Haas) struggle to confront their own personal demons while facing down a new breed of raw terror that is possibly older than humanity itself… And much, much hungrier. [Image Entertainment]… Expand

Director: Jack Heller

Genre(s): Drama, Thriller, Horror

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 90 min

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Critic Reviews

RogerEbert.com Glenn Kenny

Jul 24, 2015

A horror movie, a creepy and atmospheric and sometimes blood-soaked horror movie, and it’s got a good amount going for it. Read full review

The Playlist Zach Hollwedel

Jul 27, 2015

Dark was the Night had the potential to engender scares, but the movie suffers from trying too hard. Read full review

Dennis Harvey

Jul 28, 2015

Solid performances help the dramatic aspects achieve at least some of the gravity aimed for, which in turn helps elevate the proceedings a notch above standard horror suspense until the final reel’s requisite violent payoff. Read full review

Aaron Hillis

Jul 21, 2015

The narrative strikes a mostly sensible (if overly earnest) ratio of inner-turmoil human theater to B-movie monster hunt, before ultimately tilting toward the classic drive-in with climactic siege action and old-school effects. Read full review

Frank Scheck

Jul 22, 2015

While its emphasis on character dynamics and a slow burn atmosphere is to be commended, Dark Was the Night is too derivative and familiar to make much of an impact. Read full review

Movie Nation Roger Moore

Jul 29, 2015

After a bloody prologue, when a lumberman sprays his blood all over the interior of his pickup’s windshield, Dark Was the Night settles in for a long, creepy slumber — more sleepy than creepy, truthfully. Read full review

Martin Tsai

Jul 23, 2015

The script, the special effects and Jack Heller's direction simply don't add up in the profile of the mythical creature. It's quite obvious the filmmakers didn't put a lot of thought into it and went straight for the cheapest thrills. Read full review

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User Reviews

quincytheodore

Jul 25, 2015

Cool and mysterious atmosphere overcome some of the generic themes. Predominantly set in chilly blue tint, Dark Was the Night has quaint and also eerie ambiance fitting for a mystery thriller. The wintry set-up is convincingly effective on creating a sense of isolation, which keeps theCool and mysterious atmosphere overcome some of the generic themes. Predominantly set in chilly blue tint, Dark Was the Night has quaint and also eerie ambiance fitting for a mystery thriller. The wintry set-up is convincingly effective on creating a sense of isolation, which keeps the suspense going even though it slightly stumbles at midway point. It's troubled by relatively bland acting and repetitive developments at some points, yet it still looks and feels refined.

Several odd occurrences have happened in isolated town of Maiden Woods. The small town has small population and the anomalies understandably disturb its occupants. What may seem like a prank eventually escalates as the beastly sightings become more malicious. For a straightforward theme, it maintains the thrill well without straying too far into campy monster flick.

Its biggest asset is the cinematography. Visually the movie has just the appropriate outlook for mystery horror. Details of the town and its surrounding produce morbid effect on its own. However, it may take the title too seriously. A couple of scenes in night time look overly bleak and vague. Choppy editing and jittery camera unfortunately hamper some of the intense sequences.

Acting is also a bit imbalance. The sheriff looks ridden with guilt and anguish, while it may work with his sad backstory, the excessive lamentation proves to be tiresome in the long run. Several other cast deliver better performance, more emotionally involved than most horror movies have to offer. Yet, the subplots and monotonous investigation plod the pace significantly in second half before reaching its climax.

There are a few inconsistencies on the presentation, it's not overly innovative either, however the solid atmosphere is primed for mystery horror. It's polished cleverly, and will most likely please fans of the genre or audience looking for light thrill.… Expand

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bobbytomorow

Jul 25, 2015

Great on paper but ultimately a boring snoozefest

I went into this with high hopes what with the great cast of Kevin Durand, Lukas Haas and an on fire Nick Damici (loved his performances in Stakeland and Late Phases), a director coming off of a pretty decent first effort with EnterGreat on paper but ultimately a boring snoozefest

I went into this with high hopes what with the great cast of Kevin Durand, Lukas Haas and an on fire Nick Damici (loved his performances in Stakeland and Late Phases), a director coming off of a pretty decent first effort with Enter Nowhere and an interesting and mysterious premise shot in classic isolationist style a la The Thing, 30 Days of Night or Pumpkinhead. Even watching Dark was the Night its tough to really pinpoint what failed this film the most, because the acting here is on point, character development is great and nothing comes off as cheesy, everything is very convincing. What did it in, in my opinion, was its massively slow start with little to nothing going on...which can be forgivable if tension is being built or there is an engrossing atmosphere to get caught up in (think Alien) but there is literally nothing happening here for well over an hour, everything is uninteresting and when things finally start to get rolling the movie ends, the payoff simply falls well short for the investment the movie asks of the viewer. To top it all off though when the monster is finally revealed its CGI, come on, its on screen for maybe 30 seconds and you couldn't spring for some decent practical effects?

4/10… Expand

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