Starring
Keri Russell, Josh Hamilton, Dakota Hoyo, Kadan Rocket, J.K. Simmons. Directed
by Scott Stewart. (2013, 97 min).
There's
something about weird-ass symbols that make everything just a bit creepier.
Case
in point...last week I got a postcard in the mail. There was no return address...just
a single message: "Have you been chosen?" Normally, I would have
first assumed I won something, followed almost immediately by the realization
that whatever I was 'chosen' for would likely require sitting through a time-share
seminar. But this cryptic announcement was surrounded by bizarre shapes and symbols...almost
like mini crop circles. For a brief second, the chronic paranoia in me took
over. I've seen enough horror movies to know weird-ass symbols are never a good
sign
The
postcard wasn't directly addressed to me, but Free Kittens Movie Guide,
meaning it was a promo. Sure enough, Dark Skies on Blu-Ray arrived a few
days later, a film where these shapes play an important role in the story. I
gotta admit it was an ingenious introduction to the movie.
This
one is touted as being "from the producer of Paranormal Activity and
Insidious," two films which were far better than I thought they'd
be. Hence, I had slightly higher expectations for this one than a lot of recent
horror movies.
 |
| What's worse than aliens in the house? A big-ass spider on the ceiling. |
Dark
Skies follows the Insidious formula pretty closely...a typical,
young suburban family begins to experience inexplicable events at home
(groceries tossed around the kitchen, family photos vanishing, suicidal birds,
etc.). Most of the strange phenomena appear to be directed at Jesse & Sam,
their two kids. The dark bruises appear all over Sam’s torso. Moody older
brother, Jesse, has a violent seizure, and upon examination, their physician
finds strange symbols tattooed all over his body (See? Not a good sign!). Mom
believes supernatural forces are behind it all. Dad needs a lot more convincing,
which he gets after installing video cameras all over the house and catching
the terror on tape. But it isn’t until they meet an eccentric, cat-hoarding
recluse (J.K. Simmons) that they learn what they’re up against: The Greys, a horde
of kid-snatching extra-terrestrials.
So
yeah, Dark Skies is basically Insidious with aliens. Writer/Director
Scott Stewart (who also helmed the underrated Priest) provides some nice moments of tension throughout the first
half. A solid cast helps make the whole thing seem at-least plausible. Although
the concept is a little murky, it’s mostly intriguing enough to maintain
interest. However, unlike Insidious
(which had some truly terrifying moments), Dark
Skies is never very scary, and the payoff isn’t nearly as satisfying. It
also feels padded out with some unnecessary subplots. This family’s financial
problems don’t figure into the story at all, nor does Jesse’s awkward sexual
awakening (these scenes slow the movie down to a crawl).
Though
a fairly predictable variation on the family-in-peril genre, Dark Skies is well-made for what it is.
It doesn’t instill the same level of dread as Insidious, but it’s far from the worst of its ilk (and a hell of a
lot better than any of the Paranormal
Activity’s dreadful sequels). I don’t regret being chosen.
SPECIAL
FEATURES: Audio Commentary by Writer/Director Scott Stewart, Producers Jason
Blum & Brian Kavanaugh-Jones and Editor Peter Gvozdas. Alternate &
Deleted Scenes.
FKMG
RATING:
1/2
(OUT
OF 5)
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