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.

 

 

The Overlook: Burning Bright

(imdb.com)

You ever sit down, watch a movie, dislike the movie, but see it all the way through because of the passive enjoyment you received from it? That's pretty much the situation for Burning Bright; a film, that like many animal attack films before it is good entertainment, even if it’s a bad movie. Whereas, a movie like Backcountry is simultaneously good stylistically and story wise as it is thrilling entertainment, Burning Bright is only worthwhile under the pretense that you probably won't care so much. The choices made by filmmakers, including the problematic use of a son with autism, won't win any points in class or tact, but there's something still so enjoyable at the core of the B-horror Burning Bright.


Currently streaming no Shudder, Burning Bright follows a financially struggling sister and brother and their absentee step-father-turned-guardian as they - quite literally - get caught up in a cat-and-mouse game with a tiger during a hurricane. The film stars bon a fide scream queen, Briana Evigan (Sorority Row) as Kelly Taylor a college-hopeful who feels trapped taking care of her sibling after her mom's death, Charlie Tahan (I Am Legend) as Tom Taylor, the brother with autism, and Garret Dillahunt (Deadwood), as Johnny, the worthless step-father without a care.

Trapped in the house without a place to go, Burning Bright makes the most of its confined spaces. From the get-go, it's pretty obvious who released the big cat from its cage and fair warning: the horror portion of the film doesn't begin until 30 minutes in, but this movie offers enough bang in its tiny package to make something fans of the subgenre will like. Additionally, fans of Evigan will be pleasantly surprised to see that, once again, she's able to hold some of the film's flaws on her back. She's a proven force in the genre and despite all of the movie's dated-feel, can make it seem just as good in a world of slicker, more accomplished films.

Perhaps it is the level of escapism presented by Burning Bright that makes it so watchable. Viewers won't be able to help thinking what they would do in a similar, although ridiculous, situation. One particular scene, where Kelly is trapped in a laundry room provides some terrific tension and perfectly captures this level of simulative thinking.

Will you love Burning Bright? Chances are, honestly, no. But, what you get is what you pay for and for a film like this; it’s definitely a find worth some value. Evigan's Kelly is great and Dillahunt's terrible role is just as fulfilling. The gratification alone, given by the somewhat predictable and comical ending, while cheap, is definitely amazing and it’s hard not to be enthralled by all the happenings in Burning Bright.