The Darkness (2016)

Directed by: Greg McLean

Written by: Shayne Armstrong, Shane Krause, & Greg McLean

Starring: Kevin Bacon, Radha Mitchell, & David Mazouz







So surprisingly this film is actually good.

I'm not much into horror or thriller films, mostly because they resemble each other and I don't find them scary.  Sometimes I start laughing when a scary part comes on, which may be a defensive mechanism.  Who knows?

Anyway, the Taylor family heads to the Grand Canyon for vacation.  While there, their autistic son, Michael (Mazouz), falls into a hole in the mountains and discovers these ancient rocks with strange symbols on them. He puts them all in his backpack.  I think you can get the rest from that right?  Let's just say it was a bad idea to bring them home.

The acting is interesting.  They seem like a typical happy family in photos, on paper, etc... But the directing or writing, whichever, assisted in showing their flaws with subtle looks, actions, and more.  That I really appreciated.

In addition, instead of just having a random spirit haunting the family, there is an explanation as to who and what the spirit is.  In other words, the spirit has it's own backstory, which completes the plot.

This film, though, original, did seem to replicate parts in other horror films, such as The Conjuring, The Poltergeist, etc... But since there are so many horror films out there, how is this not possible these days.

Even though I liked it, it isn't scary.  So if you are interested in a mystery thriller, then yes, go see it.  If you want to be scared, you'll be disappointed.  4 popcorns.