Dark Skies

15, 2013, Directed by Scott Stewart 
Starring: Keri Russell, Josh Hamilton, Dakota Goyo, JK Simmons

Many may initially scoff at this little-hyped horror upon discovering it’s crafted from the same production house as Paranormal Activity, Insidious and Sinister – all of which have had or are due sequels at one time or another.  However, this scare-attempt - which follows the Barret family as they begin to experience disturbing encounters with a malevolent force - is more successful than you would expect. Racking up the suspense-laden tension, director Scott Stewart deals adeptly with what could potentially be run-of-the-mill fodder; decent performances from the Barret family, led by Keri Russell and Josh Hamilton’s parents, lead to a misplaced cameo from JK Simmons as an extra-terrestrial specialist. Unsettling jumps during memorable scenes, with genuinely spine-tingling portrayals of a factor that has been interpreted in films countless times before (if the picture doesn't give the game away, I refuse to here,) all assist in elevating Dark Skies to being one of those numerous entries into the horror genre you should actually check out.

3/5

  

Readmore...

Insidious

15, 2011, Directed by James Wan
Starring: Rose Byrne, Patrick Wilson, Barbara Hershey, Ty Simpkins

From the director of mammoth horror franchise Saw and producer of on-its-way mammoth horror franchise Paranormal Activity, you would be forgiven for watching Insidious from behind your hands with a large amount of trepidation. The plot follows stereotypical hokum horror pokum, merging slamming doors with things that go bump in the night, but throws the haunted house idea to the side by focusing on… a haunted son. When Dalton slips into a comatose state, it becomes clear that some angry spirits are hanging around in the dead of night. For the first 45 minutes, Insidious provides not only mandatory jolts, but genuine scares; spooky set-pieces with blink-and-you’ll-miss-it imagery that will have viewers reaching for the rewind and pause buttons. Additionally, at times the scares are so well-constructed you have an overwhelming sense you could be watching the horror film of the decade. It’s a crying shame then that what the film descends into is something that the original Saw and Paranormal Activity both scored miles above. Predictable, if contrived plot twists harmed by clichéd performances from the unfortunate cast (who do all they can - especially Barbara Hershey in Black Swan mode for her second spooky supporting role of the year). Some fear-inducing creations aside, it is the unseen potential of the project, not to mention the gimmicky contrived climax, that heightens the disappointment. However, rest assured – you will never look at Darth Maul in the same way again.

2/5



Readmore...