Review: Super Dark Times

(imdb.com)

In a landscape of ghouls, ghosts and aliens, sometimes thrillers featuring ultrarealistic horrors can be overlooked. Movies like We Need to Talk about Kevin are deeply disturbing because of the actual accounts they've pulled inspiration from and the possibility of its terrifying plot happening to you or someone you know. Others like The Gift or The Invitation are a little more outlandish, but also ground themselves in scares that feel authentically human. Similar to these is the indie master class in tension, Super Dark Times.

Easily one of the most impressive thriller releases in years, Super Dark Times is a sinister coming-of-age film following a group of friends covering up the accidental stabbing of one of their friends. As each are experiencing all that comes with being a teenager, they increasingly become unhinged in an attempt to maintain some sense of normality. Super Dark Times stars Owen Campbell (As You Are) Zach, Charlie Tahan (Charlie St. Cloud) as Zach's more introverted best friend, Josh, Elizabeth Cappuccino (Jessica Jones) as Zach's love interest, Allison, and Max Talisman (Children of Ether) and Sawyer Barth (Public Morals) as aryl and Charlie.


Campbell is especially effective given his trotted territory of coming-of-age films like the lighter Perks of Being a Wallflower. He conveys a sense of burdened youth that is truly compelling to watch. But, the others are nearly as fantastic. Tahan's ability to present a struggling young person and Talisman's purposeful annoyingness are all well thought out and executed. Then there's Barth who's younger character is also one of the film's most strong-willed.


As the movie plays out with its fantastic cinematography and camera work, viewers can expect to be enveloped in this grim world of hazy tones and New York suburbia. The tense atmosphere culminates to an impending dread and while there are no big surprises here, the terrifying intrigue never dies down. Everyone knows this movie won't have a happy ending because, unlike pure fiction, the grounded story of Super Dark Times suggests that everyone - no matter their intentions - pays for their actions and choices.


Super Dark Times is a brooding and terribly dismantling film. It's disturbing plot, reminiscent of the violence acted out among youth in real life, hits close to home. It's beautifully shot, filled with tension and ends with the type of foresighted explosion that still doesn't take any of the punch away. Like so many movies before it, Super Dark Times wants you to know what's going to happen, but makes it more disturbing than originally thought. 8 out of 10.