Lights Out

Name: Lights Out
Genre: Thriller, Fantasy, Horror
Released: July 22, 2016
Duration: 81 min
Rating: 58
Cast: Alexander DiPersia, Billy Burke, Gabriel Bateman, Maria Bello, Teresa Palmer

2016

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 34 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 435 Ratings

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7.6

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7.6	Your Score
7.6	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 435 Ratings

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Lights Out

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Movie Details & Credits

Warner Bros. | Release Date: July 22, 2016 | PG-13

Starring: Alexander DiPersia, Billy Burke, Gabriel Bateman, Maria Bello, Teresa Palmer

Summary: When Rebecca (Teresa Palmer) left home, she thought she left her childhood fears behind. Growing up, she was never really sure of what was and wasn’t real when the lights went out…and now her little brother, Martin (Gabriel Bateman), is experiencing the same unexplained and terrifying events that had once tested her sanity and threatenedWhen Rebecca (Teresa Palmer) left home, she thought she left her childhood fears behind. Growing up, she was never really sure of what was and wasn’t real when the lights went out…and now her little brother, Martin (Gabriel Bateman), is experiencing the same unexplained and terrifying events that had once tested her sanity and threatened her safety. A frightening entity with a mysterious attachment to their mother, Sophie (Maria Bello), has reemerged. But this time, as Rebecca gets closer to unlocking the truth, there is no denying that all their lives are in danger…once the lights go out.… Expand

Director: David F. Sandberg

Genre(s): Thriller, Fantasy, Horror

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 81 min

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Critic Reviews

Michael O'Sullivan

Jul 21, 2016

For a movie that relies so heavily on a single, not especially groundbreaking visual effect — now you see the bogeyman, now you don’t — Lights Out is crazy scary. Read full review

Edward Douglas

Jul 19, 2016

While the central visual of the figure in the dark goes a long way to provide the essential scares, the success of the film is just as much about what the filmmakers do to develop the characters that the audience cares about. Read full review

Mick LaSalle

Jul 21, 2016

Lights Out presents actual characters that are interesting, that have rough edges, that act like real people, not victims in waiting. Read full review

Moira Macdonald

Jul 21, 2016

Lights Out is an effective, tidy little chiller; basically the same sneak-up-in-the-dark scare over and over. But hey, as we’ve learned through decades of horror movies, that stuff works. Read full review

Andrew Barker

Jun 14, 2016

Very obviously a first feature, Lights Out is full of camp (most of it clearly intentional, some perhaps not), and its underlying mythology is confused and often ridiculous. But there’s an invigorating leanness — and a giddy, almost innocent energy — to the filmmaking. Read full review

IndieWire Kate Erbland

Jul 21, 2016

Sandberg unquestionably has an eye for a great horror motif — and, given the frequent use of absolutely gut-churning ambient sounds and hair-raising scratching noises, an ear for it, too — and he’s assembled a strong cast to tell Heisserer’s expanded story, but even those smart decisions and clear talents can’t push Lights Out to brighter heights. Read full review

Joe Morgenstern

Jul 21, 2016

This one, a debut feature, is awfully inept, whereas the short isn’t long enough for ineptitude to take hold, or for a story to develop. Read full review

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User Reviews

mm007

Oct 18, 2016

[10/10]
PROs:
1. A horror film could'nt be any better.Amazing. 2.Nice concept of Ghost and it's weakness (sensitivity from light). 3.Had a good story that kept unfolding slowly to the very last of the movie. 4.Gives a message what courage and love can do together to destroy the evil.[10/10]
PROs:
1. A horror film could'nt be any better.Amazing.
2.Nice concept of Ghost and it's weakness (sensitivity from light).
3.Had a good story that kept unfolding slowly to the very last of the movie.
4.Gives a message what courage and love can do together to destroy the evil.
CONs:
None.… Expand

27 of 31 users found this helpful274

Exigent93

Jun 6, 2021

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2 of 13 users found this helpful211

tjman09

Jul 23, 2016

Lights Out, is quite possibly one of the most visually and mentally scary films in the last two years. The film is yet another in a string of horror movies that uses diseases as allegories for its premise, and this premise alone is genius. Lights Out is often unnerving and sometimesLights Out, is quite possibly one of the most visually and mentally scary films in the last two years. The film is yet another in a string of horror movies that uses diseases as allegories for its premise, and this premise alone is genius. Lights Out is often unnerving and sometimes terrifying, dark in look and tone, without feeling recycled or derivative. The biggest strength of the film is that the story is constructed in a way that the audience is always wondering if something will happen.
The most genius element of the film is the look of the creature that haunts this movie “Diana.” Diana is an all-black figure that lurks in the dark, and kills whoever threatens it. That being said throughout this film the audience has to fear that this character could pop out of any dark space at any given time. At 81 minutes, not a single second is calm or peaceful, because the mere sight of sight of this creature is unnerving. However, the writers and crew deserve credit for conceiving the idea of the film having a lot of darkness in it.
We often say lighting is a storytelling device, but in today’s films it's become less true the more formulaic films get. In this film lighting is very much a storytelling device, and it is used perfectly. Every scene in this film contains, just the right amount of darkness and light, almost as if there are safe areas, and areas that characters should stay away from, and they’re often changing. The dark look and tone of this film, create a very unnerving atmosphere, because one of the most common fears is a fear of the dark, and more notably a fear of the unknown, which exists in the dark.
The film really hit a note with me personally, because I have had nightmares in the past about all dark figures living in the dark, so the film felt that much more personal to me. That being said, the film really doesn’t feel all that derivative of other recent horror films. A few moments, and scenes did feel familiar (Diana as a child), but those were few and far between. Even those moments that are a little familiar, are constructed in a way that they are still very scary.
The film does what The Babadook did a couple of years ago, and uses depression as an allegory for the creature in the film, which is turning into a very cool concept. The film is one of the few films within the system that uses lighting to tell the story, and does so in a way that is clever and terrifying at the same time. The film is admittedly dark, and relatively humorless, and not really for children, but that kinda goes without saying. For those horror buffs looking for a good scary movie, this may be your movie.… Expand

9 of 10 users found this helpful91

Urbanlistener

Jul 2, 2017

Fun horror film with pretty scary scenes, a good plot and characters you care about. A bit by the number and repetitive, but still pretty cool and enjoyable.

1 of 15 users found this helpful114

Compi24

Jul 24, 2016

A mainstream summer horror movie with jump scares. . .but there's a catch. This one's actually good! And those jump scares? Mere red herrings for the actual innovative thrills that inhabit "Lights Out," director David F. Sandberg's triumphant reassurance to beleaguered horror fans the worldA mainstream summer horror movie with jump scares. . .but there's a catch. This one's actually good! And those jump scares? Mere red herrings for the actual innovative thrills that inhabit "Lights Out," director David F. Sandberg's triumphant reassurance to beleaguered horror fans the world over. The film takes its deviously ingenious premise and not only implements it into the film to stunningly terrifying results, but fun results too! Sure, its running time is as light as some of the expository elements within, but as far as post-Paranormal-Activity horror films go, this one is most definitely worthy of note and the price of admission.… Expand

4 of 20 users found this helpful416

TheDorkElf

Jul 22, 2016

Well I was surprised by how simple and fresh the idea of the monster only moving in the dark was. The film also wasn't populated with murder fodder type characters as in with most horror movies. The film didn't really scare me but it kept me on edge like a proper suspense film. This filmWell I was surprised by how simple and fresh the idea of the monster only moving in the dark was. The film also wasn't populated with murder fodder type characters as in with most horror movies. The film didn't really scare me but it kept me on edge like a proper suspense film. This film however made the mistake of writing of stupid reasoning of the ghost. It also makes the mistake of showing the monster and ending the film on a very anticlimactic note. Despite all of its major missteps I would give a soft recommend to this film.… Expand

1 of 19 users found this helpful118

Ferris1985

Jul 30, 2016

When I first saw the trailer for this before The Conjuring 2 I thought it was one of those joke ads to get you to turn your phone off. That's what it should have been. Think of every ghost story horror cliche because this movie has them all. There is next to no plot or character developmentWhen I first saw the trailer for this before The Conjuring 2 I thought it was one of those joke ads to get you to turn your phone off. That's what it should have been. Think of every ghost story horror cliche because this movie has them all. There is next to no plot or character development and no original ideas. On top of all that the two main characters were played by no name actors and with good reason. The acting is as forced and wooden as the script is shallow.

Basically everything that the Conjuring 2 did right (engaging characters, subverting the audience's expectations, humor, stylish cinematography, and jump scares that were earned) well.... this does the exact opposite. It takes itself way too seriously, and lacks anything that could be called better than mediocre. I did not hear one person in the audience, screech, shudder or cower throughout the entire film. The best thing about this movie is the short run time.… Expand

1 of 33 users found this helpful132

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61	#61 Most Discussed Movie of 2016
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