‘It’s safer in the dark’
Don’t Turn Out the Lights is a 2024 American supernatural survival horror film about a group of young friends trapped when their RV breaks down. It was formerly known by the uninspiring title Blue Light so it was a good move to change it.
Written, directed and co-produced by Andy Fickman (Heathers: The Musical; Playing with Fire; Race to Witch Mountain; producer of Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse; Anaconda). Also produced by Curtis Brockelman, Katie Leary, Scott Prisand, Grant Slater, Todd Slater and Betsy Sullenger. Executive produced by Scott Abrams, Bob Leary and Marykate Meath.
The Oops Doughnuts Productions Bella DeLong (Wuthering Heights), Amber Janea, Jarrett Austin Brown, John Bucy, Jasper Cole, Crystal Lake Evans, Finley Rose Slater, Daryl Tofa-Soriano and Ana Zambrana.
Plot:
When a group of young friends’ RV breaks down on an isolated road with no cell phone service. They soon realise something eerie and unworldly is hiding in the woods, threatening their lives and belief in the supernatural. This most unequipped group of friends, used to having everything solved by a quick text or social media, must now find the courage to fight and survive for themselves…
External reviews:
“Throughout the film, Fickman tries create ambiguity regarding the nature of the evil preying on the RV’ers, but he never establishes sufficient character or suspenseful tension for viewers to invest in the mystery. The results are too much like too many previous films. Not recommended…” J.B. Spins
“The attacks on these beleaguered, terrified adolescents, all at one psychological, supernatural, viscerally physical and trippily hallucinatory, would appear to be the mysterious workings of a death that is foretold, and of course inevitable – but also tragically premature. For these kids are cut down in their prime, and their every effort to stay alive, and to keep this malevolent whatever at bay, is doomed to fail once those wheels on the bus have been set in motion.” Projected Figures
“I can only recommend Don’t Turn Out the Lights so much, mostly because the characterizations and the dialogue are so cliched and unlovable that it’s often hard to enjoy all the twists and turns that Fickman (Race to Witch Mountain) tiptoes past throughout this diverting Choose Your Own Adventure genre exercise.” 2.5 out of 4, RogerEbert.com
Trailer:
Clip:
Release:
Quiver Distribution will release Don’t Turn Out the Lights in the USA theatrically and on VOD on September 6, 2024.
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