‘Sometimes horror is unseen’
The Darkness of the Road is a 2021 American horror film about a single mother whose daughter is kidnapped on a desolate road.
Written and directed by Venezuelan-born Eduardo Rodriguez (You’re Not Alone; Fright Night 2; El Gringo; Stash House; Curandero). Produced by Juliet Berman, David Lawson Jr., Justin Nappi and Eric Tosstorff.
The Treehouse Pictures production stars Najarra Townsend (The Stylist; Portal; Dementia: Part II; Contracted and sequel), Johnny Whitworth (Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance; Pathology; Valentine); Paris Dylan, Leah Lauren and Gwyneth Glover.
Plot:
A single mother and her young daughter are driving on a desolate road in a moonless desert. After meeting a young female hitchhiker at a gas station, the mother realises her daughter is missing.
As they frantically search for the young girl, a merciless force begins to torment the two women, unravelling a world of terror they must survive if they are to discover the terrifying truth behind the daughter’s disappearance…
Reviews:
“The film’s tonal focus on gloom and dread only builds over time, allowing for an atmosphere that, while technically present since the beginning, becomes more and more tremendous with time. Its dream logic makes for a gripping narrative that may not thrill a ton but provides a sincere air of discomfort and anxiety. The dedication provided to the plot’s surreal flow may take a little getting used to, but this is a nightmare one does not want to miss out on.” Bloody Disgusting
“Throughout the movie the darkness of the night (the film is set almost entirely at night) is contrasted with bright colours coming from car lights, phone screens or a tinted blue sky. Colour is very important and I loved it all […] This is an ambitious and thought-provoking genre movie that will grip you until its very last moments.” Nerdly
” …rather than playing it straight/chronological, uses different layers of reality to paint its picture, takes an associative approach to storytelling, refuses to explain things away, and basically follows the logic of a nightmare – and that works very well, thanks to a cleverly structured script, an atmospheric directorial approach that doesn’t shy away from keeping things in the dark…” Search My Trash
“Rodriguez makes good use of camera angles, lighting and filters to help suggest that strange forces are at play. With its small cast and limited settings, The Darkness of the Road gives every indication of having been shot on a shoestring. Since that means keeping the effects to a minimum, it’s an efficient and effective way of building the film’s atmosphere and sense of dread.” Voices from the Balcony
Release date:
In the US, The Darkness of the Road will be released on DVD and Digital by Uncork’d Entertainment on December 14th 2021.
Cast and characters:
Najarra Townsend … Siri
Johnny Whitworth … Clerk
Paris Dylan … Prisoner
Leah Lauren … Iris
Gwyneth Glover … Eve
Trailer:
