Dark Spell Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		1.0
Overall		3.0

Dark Spell Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf August 3, 2021

“Dark Spell” is the latest offering from co-writer/director Svyatoslav Podgaevskiy, who previously helmed “Mermaid: Lake of the Dead” and “Baba Yaga: Terror of the Dark Forest.” The Russian filmmaker is determined to make his fortune in horror, delivering another stab at genre glory in “Dark Spell.” The endeavor has more in common with a CW Network program than a true chiller, with Podgaevskiy creating a grim game of love and obsession for a young woman who simply wants eternal devotion from the father of her child. As is the routine in this type of movie, nothing goes as planned, but what’s surprising about “Dark Spell” is how unadventurous the production is save for a few grisly moments. It’s about a demonic awakening, and yet very little cinematic threat is created, making for a tough sit with a bland effort.

Zhenya (Yana Yenzhayeva) is a meek dressmaker who’s recently had a baby with her boyfriend, Kirill (Konstantin Beloshapka). An artist with no sense of loyalty, Kirill is caught cheating on Zhenya, but doesn’t care about her feelings, happily moving on with another lover. The single mother can’t handle such rejection, turning to a local witch to acquire a love spell, which she unleashes during a wedding for Sonya (Varvara Borodina), her most recent client. Getting her wish, Kirill is transformed into Zhenya’s lover once again, but this newfound passion shows no sign of restraint, leading to dark acts of obsession and demonic connection.

“Dark Spell” has potential with Zhenya’s world of insecurity, finding the young woman stuck in love with Kirill, a man who has no respect for the mother of his child, cheating in plain view, and he’s even physically abusive. But she can’t be alone, she can’t say no, turning to the realm of black magic for an easy answer to all of her problems. This is the plot “Dark Spell” is mostly competent with, but the production is allergic to such psychological complexity, preferring to create a genre picture where a spell is cast and a handful of tired jump scare scenes are created, tracking Zhenya’s exposure to evil. Not helping the cause is the helmer’s repeated use of child endangerment to rile up viewers, with an infant being threatened or abandoned a common sight in the feature. It’s a cheap way to create tension, but the effort really has no other options, finding dramatics feeble at best and supernatural elements too loosely defined to matter.

Dark Spell Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (2.39:1 aspect ratio) presentation secures decent detail, working with the harder surfaces of art projects, and wetter elements, such as plaster, retain intended texture. Facial particulars are distinct, and costuming is fibrous, highlighting leather jackets and lacy wedding gowns. Driving sequences offer reasonable dimension, along with church and apartment interiors. A cooler, greenish palette is provided for evildoing, but primaries are pronounced on outfits. The whiteness of art offerings is sharp, and skintones are natural. Delineation is acceptable. Artifacting is periodic.

Dark Spell Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA track defaults to an English mix, which sounds a bit more powerful and defined than the Russian offerings on the disc. Dialogue exchanges are sharp, along with more demonic happenings that offer manipulated voices. Scoring is acceptable, fighting inherent blandness, but instrumentation is appreciable and emotional moods are set. Surrounds push out some musical offerings. Atmospherics are livelier with horror events. Low-end has some activity during violent episodes.

Dark Spell Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• A Trailer (2:16, HD) has been included.

Dark Spell Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Dark Spell" has a to-do list of horror experiences, working through possessions and chases, with only one scene, featuring Kirill taking his mother's wedding ring by force, showing any kind of macabre imagination. "Dark Spell" aims for some level of romance, and sex scenes are periodic, but the material primarily wants to be a scary movie. It doesn't become one, with formulaic writing dragging the whole thing down, reducing the endeavor to a predictable slog.