DARKEN (2017) Reviews and overview

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‘Another world awaits’

Darken is a 2017 Canadian science fiction horror film directed by Audrey Cummings (She Never Died; Tormented) from a screenplay by RJ Lackie. It was produced by Shaftesbury Films’ Smokebomb Entertainment.

The movie stars Bea Santos, Oluniké Adeliyi, Christine Horne, Paul Amos, and Ari Millen. Natasha Negovanlis makes a cameo appearance.

In 2018, an eleven-part limited digital series (acting as a prequel to the film), called Darken: Before the Dark was released on KindaTV.

After a young woman – Eve (Bea Santos) – is accosted by a dying warrior in the middle of the street, a bizarre incantation propels her into the realm of Darken – a violent prison-like world of labyrinthine rooms, interconnected with no apparent rhyme or reason and no way of escape.

As Eve fights for survival within this brutal place, she finds allies who are rebelling against the rule of a self-appointed religious despot who demands allegiance to an all-powerful god called “Mother Darken.” Eve and her allies must fight with everything they have if they are to have any hope of surviving the horrors Darken has in store for them…

Reviews:

“With a story penetrated by plot holes, slightly substandard cinematography, as well as the majority of the portrayals of the film’s rather insipid and inconsistent characters, Darken could only be described as “just missing the mark.” Darkenappeared to be a more ambitious project than what was capably executable. ” Misty Wallace, Cryptic Rock

“As long as you accept the presentation at face value, Darken’s ambitious ideas retain their entertainment weight. It’s a toss up if you’ll want a return ticket to this weird world. But one time through its portal is worth the trip.” Ian Sedensky, Culture Crypt

“The plot itself is fairly different with the twists, turns and places it goes. While some of its ideas could certainly use fleshing out it’s still unusual and interesting enough to hold your interest and builds to a finish that for once deserves its open ending.” Jim Morazzini, Voices from the Balcony

“Screenwriter RJ Lackie must’ve missed the tutorial on how to elaborate on ordinary details in special ways.  His derivative script hardly provides any decent characterization – making the film’s exposition hard for viewers to comprehend or care for – and he’s also written roles to match basic cutouts found in generic action thrillers.” Addison Wylie, Wylie Writes

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