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10

shango266Dec 30, 2018

An incredibly subtle, dark, brooding, violent film that had me thinking about it for hours and days afterwards. Sure, my first reaction at the end of this film was "What the hell did I just watch?" but instead of stopping there and dismissingAn incredibly subtle, dark, brooding, violent film that had me thinking about it for hours and days afterwards. Sure, my first reaction at the end of this film was "What the hell did I just watch?" but instead of stopping there and dismissing the movie as "dumb", "confusing" or "boring", I then set about answering that question for myself. Lurking just below the surface there is SO much to unpack thematically. Not every movie has to be 100% on the nose, hold-your-hand, obvious plot wrapped in a neat little bow. If this isn't your cup of tea, fine, but that doesn't make this a bad movie! I recommend watching this in the dark with the volume up, some of the dialogue is very soft and I found having the subtitles on helped quite a bit, if that doesn't bother you. I want to watch it again to see what I missed, and I also want to read the book. Any movie that makes me feel that way, and has me thinking about it long after it's over, is a success in my opinion!… Expand

3 of 3 users found this helpful30

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3

rafaelhsouzaOct 1, 2018

This movie is a huge miss, there is barely any plot to talk about, acting is quite boring and the plot twists makes no sense. Good photography and some really good action sequences, but they are not enough to save this pretentious mess.

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

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1

jdonaldOct 6, 2018

This movie was horrible. A complete waste of time. I consider myself pretty good at understanding the underlying meaning of movies but not this one. No point to it at all. Don't waste your time. Netflix needs to do better than this atThis movie was horrible. A complete waste of time. I consider myself pretty good at understanding the underlying meaning of movies but not this one. No point to it at all. Don't waste your time. Netflix needs to do better than this at original content.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

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5

ValeliSep 30, 2018

A very well-filmed movie. Very atmospheric, and featuring actors who I thought did a good job pretty much across the board.

The actual plot, such as it is, doesn't really go anywhere. The entire movie transitions from a thriller to violentA very well-filmed movie. Very atmospheric, and featuring actors who I thought did a good job pretty much across the board.

The actual plot, such as it is, doesn't really go anywhere. The entire movie transitions from a thriller to violent pulp to I'm not sure what, and ends up as nothing more than a vehicle for symbolism. I don't like that. Symbolism is well and good, but you can fit it into a movie that tells a coherent story. I just felt vacant and a bit drained after watching this. Maybe that's the point, but I'm not sure why it should be.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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3

matacriticjSep 30, 2018

Simply, not a good movie. This began as an interesting thriller set against a breathtakingly dreary Alaska backdrop. It quickly morphed into a violent nonsensical wandering mess. Distant, dull and dreary characters mirrored the greyness ofSimply, not a good movie. This began as an interesting thriller set against a breathtakingly dreary Alaska backdrop. It quickly morphed into a violent nonsensical wandering mess. Distant, dull and dreary characters mirrored the greyness of the Last Frontier. Ultimately, they managed a collective fade into the oblivion of a deeply boring and profoundly frustrating farcical tale.… Expand

5 of 6 users found this helpful51

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6

JLuis_001Sep 29, 2018

In some years I think this film will be seen as a setback for Jeremy Saulnier. A small one but certainly a setback and I don't say it because the quality of this film is questionable, because in reality it's not like that. I say it becauseIn some years I think this film will be seen as a setback for Jeremy Saulnier. A small one but certainly a setback and I don't say it because the quality of this film is questionable, because in reality it's not like that. I say it because even though we can notice his growth as a filmmaker and that this film is very different and bigger than ''Green Room'' to some extent ''Hold the Dark'' feels somewhat empty and extremely ambiguous.

The symbolism weighs on the film but never feels guided and the way it builds the mystery feels too weak despite the interesting premise and the conclusion doesn't really help to understand the concept of the whole story. Macon Blair disappointed a bit with this script to be honest.

Jeffrey Wright is the best actor in the film, not for nothing he appears alone in all the publicity while Alexander Skarsgård has his second consecutive film on Netflix where he barely leaves an impression while Riley Keough is painfully wasted.

Hold the Dark is not a bad film but I honestly expected something more, much more. Good for Netflix for giving it distribution and adding a good film to its catalog which is plagued with more poor quality than good quality. It will hardly be a memorable film but I think it's worth it.… Expand

4 of 5 users found this helpful41

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3

ozymandias79Sep 29, 2018

What was the point of this movie? Gratuitous murder? Netflix needs to stop adding pointless movies/series to its library.

9 of 12 users found this helpful93

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4

TuneisonSep 29, 2018

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I watched this film a second time because I was reading so many positive opinions I thought I might have missed something. Maybe this was just a gem of film making I overlooked. Nope, I still think it's garbage, sorry.
I can't deny that the film is very well need. The lighting of many of the scenes was visually creative and the slow cinematography helped establish the tone. It would be impossible for me not to mention that a lot of the acting is very well done and, the worst actors always seemed to be the people who had 2 or 3 lines. Basically everything on a technical level is well done and, is what saves this film from being an absolute travesty.
However, the film's biggest flaw is the script. Initially, we are presented with a very serious tone. The story is presented as realistic and, it keeps up that sense very well. All up until a character just starts shooting a semi-automatic weapon outside of a window. I get that people wouldn't be able to kill him initially from the initial shock and, many of them would be slaughtered but, how during that 30 second period of him reloading did none of the officers hit him? There were like 70 **** bullet holes and, not one person was able to land a shot on him. Not to mention from the direction and camera work of the scene, it was implying that there was like 3 people still alive. Not to mention, a semi-automatic weapon would not be anywhere near as accurate as it was portrayed to be. So the realism of the story and any believability the story had fell out of the window with that character.
Not to mention, the script itself was just very boring. Characters are essentially card board cut outs going from Point A to Point B in the story. Our main character has about as much personality as a saltine cracker and, he's the most developed one. Not to mention the story itself is so minimal I thought I had missed something which, was another part of the reason I re-watched it. I checked everywhere but, nope, I missed nothing, it's just a very weak story. I know the boring point is very subjective. Because I do accept this film has an audience and, I know for a fact after this, Murder Party and, Green Room, Jeremy Saulneir's movies aren't for me.… Expand

3 of 4 users found this helpful31

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1

wukaszOct 21, 2018

This film has very few things that made me watch it until the end.

I've started watching it on a train journey. If I had a choice of another film, I'd turn this off after the first 15 minutes, at which point I've realized that the plot isThis film has very few things that made me watch it until the end.

I've started watching it on a train journey. If I had a choice of another film, I'd turn this off after the first 15 minutes, at which point I've realized that the plot is going nowhere interesting, acting is subpar and the kinematographs characteristic of the films set in a beautiful, natural setting are replaced with dark, confusing scenes in which the viewer learns nothing.

I pressed on. The storyline continued to be awful. We are treated with scenes that at first glance appear like they are going to add to some slowly resolving, clever plot, but you'd be disappointed if you expected anything but more confusing scenes down the line that not only add nothing but are actually dull to watch.

The bits where I was actually captivated were the few snippets of action, but that to me only highlights how mindless I found the entire experience.

At the end of the film, it's implied that we ought to have found some resolution and understanding of the film, but I have no idea how anyone would expect anyone to put together a picture from this scattered missing pieces jigsaw puzzle of a plot. I have a weakness for the stunning scenery, but even that was kind of neglected. There was very little in a way of shots of the eerie, wonderful world surrounding the events of the film, but it appeared in the background, teasing greater exposure. I remember watching the Hateful Eight and enjoying the drowned out moments where the setting is exposed for us to enjoy in its slow transformation.

Overall I was not only disappointed, but I was also bored and frustrated. Awful film, watch something else.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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2

minglieMar 15, 2021

I made a Metacritic account just to give this movie a negative rating. Don't get me wrong, the cinematography and action sequences are pretty good (hence the score). The first part of the movie is actually okay, hooking you up to the story.I made a Metacritic account just to give this movie a negative rating. Don't get me wrong, the cinematography and action sequences are pretty good (hence the score). The first part of the movie is actually okay, hooking you up to the story. The story is dumb. Like really dumb. And I will not accept the usual excuse of "it has deeper meaning and symbolism". The characters are so confusing, not the good type of "confusing" as like a puzzle, but more like a messy and irritating "confusing". The motives of the characters are baffling. It is so bad at the end of the movie I felt insulted by the story of this movie.

Save your time, check out other movies. The director made other good movies, you should check them out.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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10

mboner1Oct 13, 2018

It's amazing to me a movie of this quality can receive 4.7 on metacritic user reviews to 5.7 on imdb and to 68% on rotten tomatoes ratings while fast and the furious 7 and fate of the furious can each break 1 billion dollars. EACH! (Dr evilIt's amazing to me a movie of this quality can receive 4.7 on metacritic user reviews to 5.7 on imdb and to 68% on rotten tomatoes ratings while fast and the furious 7 and fate of the furious can each break 1 billion dollars. EACH! (Dr evil laugh). Insanity.

It actually reminds me of a eminem line from the new song the ringer "Maybe "Stan" just isn't your cup of tea (get it)
Maybe your cup's more just syrup and lean"

Meaning maybe the general public just don't like things where they have a long well crafted story that's told flawlessly and prefer the Instant gratification of something garbage like fast and the furious or in eminems case, mumble Rap.… Expand

0 of 5 users found this helpful05

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0

ArchibaldMcCainJul 7, 2020

Terrible. Slow and non-sensical. 2 hours of my life I'll never get back. And it felt like 4.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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2

wollam11Nov 7, 2018

Eric from True Blood, who I enjoy watching when he's naked, kills everyone who crosses his path when he pursues his meandering wife after she butchered their only child. For revenge? Nope. He's just that hot for her and what she did. ...Eric from True Blood, who I enjoy watching when he's naked, kills everyone who crosses his path when he pursues his meandering wife after she butchered their only child. For revenge? Nope. He's just that hot for her and what she did. ...
Most offensive movie of 2018.… Expand