Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		5.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.5

Darkroom Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf April 21, 2019

After tackling the nightmare of murder in a small-town house located near an orange grove in 1988’s “Grandmother’s House,” producer Nico Mastorakis returns in 1989 with “Darkroom,” which presents the horror of…murder in a small-town house located near an orange grove. I’ll give Mastorakis this much: the man isn’t afraid of repeating himself. Changing speeds from grandparent fears to photographic menace, Mastorakis and director Terrence O’Hara strive to make a proper slasher event with “Darkroom,” unleashing various red herrings and exploring unusual personalities as they showcase a simple tale of serial killing, trying to remain with the basics to best survive the low-budget endeavor. There’s blood and lust, death and betrayal, and if you happen to be a fan of California agriculture, the production has premiere orange grove action for all.

It’s a family weekend for Janet (Jill Pierce), who’s reunited with her mother, Nora (Elizabeth Ince), grandfather Forrest, sister Cindy (Sara Lee Wade), and cousins Mark (Allen Lieberman) and Perry (Aarin Teich). Joining the fun is Cindy’s boyfriend, Steve (Jeff Arbaugh), an amateur photographer who’s planning for the future with his partner, trying to introduce the idea of long-term commitment. While the gang enjoys the great outdoors, evil has arrived in the form of a serial killer who enjoys using sharp weapons on helpless victims, picking off the locals one-by-one. Missing from the reunion is another sibling, Paula, with Cindy growing concerned about her absence, especially around her troubled boyfriend, George. Trying to find the missing woman, Janet and Mark are exposed to the murderer’s wrath, fighting to survive in the middle of nowhere as they scramble to find help before it’s too late.

Murder is not an event one has to wait long for in “Darkroom.” The opening scene examines the killer’s first attack, selecting a couple beginning their daily routine, with the husband off to work while his wife remains at home, working on the creation of a chocolate cake. The villain isn’t subtle, picking up an ax to end these lives, and while the situation is serious, there’s a camp factor to the picture, finding cake batter, not blood, splattered on the walls. The sequence sets the tone of “Darkroom,” but O’Hara isn’t always certain he wants to make something with a slight comedic push, moving between grim slasher-like kills and slightly sillier encounters, finding one character stabbed through a car seat while driving, the victim of a magically expanding knife.

The screenplay tries to provide passable dramatic foundation, finding Janet something of a commitment-phobic individual, which drives Steve crazy, as he’s a guy who knows he has options, with Cindy openly lusting him. Domestic concerns are minimal and somewhat jokey, with Nora staying close to “old fashioned” gender roles, hoping to keep her girls with her in the kitchen. However, more pressing concerns soon come into play, with Paula missing after spending time with George, making Janet nervous that something’s happened to her wild child sister. The quest to find Paula makes up the midsection of “Darkroom,” putting Janet and Perry on the case. While the gang looks into the possible abduction, the killer maintains a presence in the feature, with fondness for taking pictures of murder victims in various positions of lifelessness. It’s the one bit of ghoulishness in the effort, which is mostly comfortable with the basics in thriller cinema.

Darkroom Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

"Newly scanned & restored in 4K from its 35mm original camera negative," "Darkroom" comes to Blu-ray with a wonderfully clean and clear viewing experience. The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation delivers exceptional detail, surveying skin surfaces that vary in age and distress, and costuming stays fibrous, handling casual gear from the 1980s. Locations offer sharpness, displaying decoration and depth with care. Colors are alert, presenting bright primaries with clothing and interior design. Bloodshed supplies a deep red. Greenery is superb, supplying a rich sense of orange groves and rural travel. Skintones are natural. Delineation is precise, with nothing lost during shadowy encounters. Grain is fine and film-like. Source is in strong shape, without pronounced wear and tear.

Darkroom Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA sound mix remains an inviting listening event, but it's also working with some crude additions, with sound effects cranked up at times to make their presence known. Dialogue exchanges are clear, sustaining thespian emphasis and surges of panic and threat. Scoring is persistent but sharp, finding chirpy synth support keeping up with the action without intrusion, selling any emotion it can find. Surrounds aren't active, pushing out some atmospherics and musical needs. Low-end is thin.

Darkroom Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• "Developing Fear" (10:53, HD) is an interview with Aaron Teich, who shares his journey through low-budget entertainment, building camaraderie with other actors in the genre, making "Darkroom" a reunion with a few of the cast and crew. Teich reinforces the positive aspects of the shoot, which lasted only 10 days, helping the group to bond over long hours. The actor also shares tidbits about the location, which offered massive orange groves and ample opportunities for pranks.

• "Exposing the Truth" (14:08, HD) sits down with Jeff Arbaugh to discuss his career as an actor, which began with a love of the theater, building his skills on the stage. "Darkroom" is actually Arbaugh's screen debut, and he speaks carefully about his work in the film, trying to emphasize its popularity with genre fans. Other employment is detailed, including work on soap operas such as "Santa Barbara" and "General Hospital." The "Darkroom" shoot is examined, which was a big experience for Arbaugh, exposed to long hours and short rehearsals, learning from his mistakes along the way. The interviewee closes with an appreciation for the movie's longevity in cult circles.

• Still Gallery (2:15) collects publicity shots.

• And a Trailer (2:48, HD) is included.

Darkroom Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

As with "Grandmother's House," "Darkroom" reaches an absurdly extended climax, with Mastorakis not satisfied until every inch of the location has been covered with vehicles or on foot, finding violence spilling out into nature, but mostly contained to the household, giving O'Hara opportunities to stage more traditional scenes of suspense. It's exhausting, but at least there's momentum, with action keeping things on the move, while the killer's identity isn't saved to the final moments, clarifying the threat well before the film comes to a close. "Darkroom" isn't sharp enough to truly thrill, with O'Hara not seasoned enough to make magic with minimal screen tools and limited actors, often going for the obvious just to reach a sellable run time (there's a lot of padding to beef up the endeavor). However, there are chunks of the effort that emerge with style and tension, and the photography angle gives the movie a pleasing layer of illness, also inspiring creative main titles (as opposed to the usual "white words on black screen" routine). Slasher fans will likely be more forgiving with the endeavor's shortcomings, but all is not lost, as O'Hara has periodic clarity with his vision and Mastorakis has his beloved orange groves.