review by Josh Keown Pro
The Dark 2005
Watched Aug 09, 2012
Josh Keown’s review:
“You won’t find her here.”
-Sarah (Sophie Stuckley)
I knew I could find a film with Sean Bean in I haven’t seen yet. Unfortunately it’s not that good. Well, it’s not that bad either. It’s okay.
The cast, being who they are, are pretty great. Bello and Bean are likable and believable as the two leads, whilst the younger actresses are also convincingly creepy. They help to elevate this above the usual dreg, slightly. John Fawcett is also an able director, but this isn’t nearly as good as his earlier film, Ginger Snaps (2000).
The scares, aided by blindingly obvious and typical sound F/X, are mostly uninspired, bland and predictable, but are made up for by an interesting and compelling storyline steeped in mythology. Luckily, the story is developed a bit more in the second half, and the cheap scares are given a rest. The afterlife scenes are awesome too. But then the ending hurt my brain. It leaves food for thought, at least.
And for once Sean doesn’t die! Rejoice!
Now all the Bean Machine needs is a super-duper action film, like fellow ActionMan/general Hero of the World, Liam Neeson had, with Taken. Or even just something like The Grey. Except where he wrestles Tigers. On a plane. That has a time bomb in it. God, I should be a director with ideas like that. Michael Bay could produce.
VERDICT; A fair enough ghost story, if a little clichéd. It’s conventionally original (What? I don’t know).
3/5 or 6/10
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