FILM REVIEW: FEAR OF THE DARK

Fear of the Dark

Released: 2002

Directed by: K.C. Bascombe

Starring: Kevin Zegers, Jesse James, Rachel Skarsten

Genre: Horror

So there I was, I'd just found a copy of Leprechaun 4: In Space, along with a bizarre collection of straight to DVD epics that I fully intended to inflict on my friends that night, when I stumbled upon this. I’ll have to say the DVD cover was most uninspiring, but with it being in a store that every item only costs a pound, I wasn’t being terribly fussy. The synopsis spoke vaguely of menacing things in the dark, and if you knew me, you’d know that I’m a fan of a good ol’ ghostie tale, so into the basket it went.

Now I have to say, this movie was exceedingly good, like a fine Mr Kipling cake. It surpassed all my expectations for what inherently is a “boogeyman” premise. It opens with a set-up piece that depicts a childhood prank gone bad. Think of mean little children locking the poor, naive, blonde kid with a bowl cut in a nasty cob-webby basement. The whole scene resonates with fear, and emotions, and you are instantly sympathetic to the young boy’s terror. This is not only because, let’s face it, it’s just mean, but because there is indeed something lurking in them thar shadows...

It is years later that the main storyline takes place. You are reintroduced to the little boy of before, yet now he’s a tween-ager (almost/just turned teen), with a very acute fear of the dark. This isn’t your normal phobia, nor is it even night terrors. This is a “turning off the lights equals mad as a bag of snakes” type of scared. His parents are cool, perhaps even a little nonchalant, and his older brother is...well a typical older brother. Although semi-supportive of the younger boys needs, they are all quick to diagnose him as simply having irrational thoughts. Finding it a tad odd that he sometimes emerges from his room in the mornings with severe scratches and cuts, they do indulge his requests to have backup generators and torches for emergencies- shame they keep them in the attic. The attic being the darkest place in the house. Genius.

When night embraces the house, the parents leave for the night entrusting the older brother to babysit. Yet suddenly, lightening strikes and thunder booms.

Yes ok, I didn’t say this was the most original film ever made, but give it a chance...

So, we have a storm. Check. We have two vulnerable teenagers . Check. Generically creepy ass house. Check. Time for a blackout and cue the dramatics! I won’t enlighten you as to the extent of what happens, but I will tell you that it is a thoroughly enjoyable ride. The pacing of the film is unbeatable, and without a particularly high budget, relatively unknown young actors, and clever cinematography, it comes together as a lovely piece of film-making. There is no gore, no violence, and no nudity, and for one I find this thoroughly refreshing. There is however no lack of popcorn scares, and in fact, the tension and suspense is deeply atmospheric. The boy even turns out to be a master of precaution, with some truly inventive gadgets that made me want to get out a box of Lego and sit in cardboard boxes (what am I saying? I still totally do that).

This is the film that I would have loved to have watched on childhood sleepovers. In fact, I made a room full of grown-up's watch this one evening, and with popcorn in hand and the lights off, everyone enjoyed themselves. We even argued over the background details the director had added in, where you see creepy things just in the negative space behind the main focus on screen, forcing constant rewinds and debates.

The best thing of all is that there is no explanation. Stuff happens, you have to accept it, and I LOVE that in a horror film. Gone should be the days of Indian burial grounds and portals to hell. The house is haunted, or there just so happens to be monsters under the bed. Deal with it.

....To be fair, I never have liked opening wardrobes in the dark.

SHARP OBJEX Rating: 3 out of 4