4.9 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 2.5 | |
Overall | 2.5 |
A family returns from a Grand Canyon vacation with a supernatural presence in tow.
Starring: Kevin Bacon, Radha Mitchell, Lucy Fry, David Mazouz, Ming-Na WenHorror | 100% |
Supernatural | 29% |
Thriller | 28% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
Spanish: DTS 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
French: DTS 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English SDH, French, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
UV digital copy
BD-Live
Slipcover in original pressing
Region free
Movie | 2.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 1.0 | |
Overall | 2.5 |
The Darkness amounts to nothing more than a regurgitation of the worst of modern, conventional Horror/Paranormal tropes, taking cues from series like Paranormal Activity (though this film mercifully spares the audience the "found footage" nonsense) and Insidious but failing to do anything interesting with the overused tools at its disposal. The film, directed by Greg McLean (the Wolf Creek films), is competently assembled, at least as well as can be expected given the rather cruddy script and unimaginative happenings with which he and his cast have to work. The movie is at least lean rather than lethargic, getting to the point as quickly as possible, though whether today's more savvy audiences will find the film worth even its modest runtime is another question altogether.
The Darkness features a fine, well-rounded 108op transfer. At this stage in the format's lifespan, it's not going to turn any heads, but it's technically proficient and never shows any major flaws. The digitally photographed movie translates well enough to Blu-ray. It's a little smooth to be sure, and details are never exquisite, but it finds enough natural intimacy in clothes, faces, and nicknacks and surfaces around the house to satisfy. The opening Grand Canyon sequence is home to the most impressive details, where raw, rough, and ragged natural lines and edges showcase a tangible level of authentic texturing. Clarity is strong; the frame is revealing and crisp, with only a few smudgy edges to be seen. Color saturation is adequate. Again, the opening Canyon segment, with punchy, earthy terrain contrasted against a deep blue sky, fares best. Neighborhood greens are a close second, while clothes and home accents enjoy enough natural punch to please. Black levels occasionally push a hair too light but never seriously so. Flesh tones can look a touch pasty but are generally fine. Noise, aliasing, banding, and other maladies are of no concern.
Like many soundtracks featured in movies of this type, The Darkness begins slow and picks up significant energy and oomph as it pushes towards its climax. Universal's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack goes into a frenzy near the end, presenting plenty of hard-hitting, discrete, multidirectional, and widely dispersed effects. The subwoofer chimes in regularly and with a satisfying low end knock. Surrounds are frequently engaged. General chaos flings through the stage, but it's a sonically controlled chaos that compliments the scenes very well. Prior, the track is far more reserved. Gentle atmospherics flutter about in the Grand Canyon segment. Music is satisfyingly clear, light and gentle at first and more aggressive later. Sharper "jump scare" cues deliver a satisfying low end knock. Dialogue is well prioritized, center focused, and clearly presented.
The Darkness includes an alternate ending (1080p, 9:01) and the following deleted scenes (1080p, 9:49 total runtime): Stephanie and Friends Walking Home, Bronny and Peter - Real Estate, Peter Drives Up, Car Spark Scare, Simon Jokes About Sammy, Peter in the Elevator, Driving to the Hospital, Police Visit for Noise Complaint, and Peter and Bronny Outside the Pharmacy. A voucher for a UV/iTunes digital copy is also included with purchase.
If a movie could somehow grow legs, arms, and opposable thumbs, and The Darkness was that movie, it would no doubt grab the first club it found and proceed to beat the first dead horse it came across. The Darkness is well made on the surface, but it's got a serious case of the copycats, original in name and character faces only, taking on characteristics of other, not necessarily better, but similar films in the genre. Hardly a disgrace of a picture but certainly one with no good reason to exist, The Darkness seems destined to be forgotten to the history books (or web archives, as the case may now be), though it could certainly claim to live on as the poster child of needless genre cinema. Universal's Blu-ray lacks supplements beyond a different ending and a handful of deleted scenes. Video and audio qualities are fine, though unremarkable at this stage in the Blu-ray format's lifespan. Skip it.
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1982
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1983
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Extended Cut
2015
2016
Haunted
2014
Collector's Edition
1986
After Dark Horrorfest
2006