Random Horror

Well here I am again, out of retirement (again) but the opportunity to watch and review a film sent to me by the production company is always a no-brainer. Let me begin by saying this film is not classically HORROR but it's subject matter and the means of delivery firmly set it in the psychological thriller category so it's all good. DARK tells the story of a young former model (Kate) who is struggling with major personal issues. Left alone for the weekend after her girlfriend goes away, her internal hell rears it's ugly face in every possible way. Oh, and to top it all off, it all unfurls during the 2003 New York Black-out (I checked, it was a real thing!) Her descent into madness is beautifully captured as we follow Kate on a journey that takes her from random bars drinking with strangers to being a self-imposed prisoner in her own home. When I say follow, I really do mean follow! I counted very few seconds of screen time without Kate being prominent....

This film had all the signs of being an instant classic. Good cast, eye-catching case and the pedigree of Guillermo Del Toro as producer and co-writer. In reality what we have is a sub-standard remake that delivers very little on its promise of “Horror film of the year”. Thank you very much Billy Chainsaw of Bizarre magazine but I’m sorry, you let me down! In brief, Sally (Bailee Madison) is sent to live with her father Alex and his girlfriend Kim (Guy Pearce & Katie Holmes) Alex is an architect and Kim is an interior decorator, together they are living in and restoring Blackwood Manor... The house, is supposed to be set in Rhode Island despite it being unlike anything you may find in Rhode Island! It is creepy enough and as the film’s opening shows us, it has history. The opening sequence involves Lord Blackwood, a house keeper and a hammer and chisel. It actually provides us with the first and unfortunately last squeamish moment. As Sally gets used to her new surroundings, she...