VOD Review: Dark Was the Night (2015)

Kevin Durand has quietly been one of the best character actors in Hollywood for years.

He might be most famous for playing Martin Keamy in LOST, or maybe even his role as one of the crazy Tremor Brothers in Smokin' Aces, but he's been showing up in great movies and TV Shows for the last 15 years, and killing it every time.

Now, he's finally getting to carry a movie all on his own, and that makes us happy. In all honesty, if not for him, we would have probably waited for a while to check this one out.

There's something in the woods surrounding the small town of Maiden Woods, and it's been creeping into town at night scaring people, and disemboweling animals and such. Maybe it's hungry. Or maybe it's just mad. Either way, it's clearly not happy about something. Being chased from its home in the deep forest by a logging company might have something to do with it.

IN SMALL TOWNS, FOOTPRINTS DRAW A CROWD.

Sheriff Paul Shields tries his best to keep the peace in Maiden Woods, but it isn't easy. He's still trying to come to terms with the recent death of his son, and his marriage is imploding because he's been so distant, but he tries. Damn it man, he tries! Lucky for him he's got himself a fancy new Deputy from the big city to help him hold things together.

THE BACKWATER VERSION OF STARSKY & HUTCH.

As strange occurrences, disappearances, and sightings begin to increase around town, in both frequency and severity, the two of them try desperately to find the cause of the town's ills before it's too late. *It's a monster, by the way. A real life monster.

EVEN IN THE DARK, YOU CAN EASILY IDENTIFY LUKAS HAAS BY THOSE EARS.

Dark Was the Night established a bleak sense of foreboding early on that kept us engaged throughout. We liked it's characters, and although the plot moves slowly (and seemed repetitive at times), it was still an intense ride that we're glad we took.

There's nothing terribly original about the this movie, but it's well-made and handles its subject matter with just the right amount of Horror and impending doom. Surprisingly, this is as much the story of a man in pain as it is a town in mortal danger from unseen forces, and the human element of the film is every bit as compelling as its Horror aspects. In fact, it just might be that human element that made this one feel above average. 

The real draw of this movie is Kevin Durand. The guy is a great actor who has played some fantastic supporting characters throughout his career, and it's about time that he finally got to shine in a leading role. Even if it is in a smaller movie. He plays the hero exceptionally well, as evidenced by him being the best part of FX's The Strain, but here he's the main focus, and he pulls it off perfectly. Lukas Haas was pretty solid as the Deputy too, and Nick Damici was as awesome as he always is, even if his role in this one was relatively small.

FEELINGS. SO MANY FEELINGS.

As much as we enjoyed Dark Was the Night, we have to say that it was fairly slow and uneventful until the last 20 minutes or so. The movie seemed to follow a pattern of -something creepy happening, people wondering what was happening/talking about what was happening, something creepy happening- to the point where it felt familiar. Instead of a slow-building sense of rising action, the plot of the movie played out more like waves, rising and falling in a predictable rhythm.

Again, we really enjoyed the movie despite its slower pace, but just know that it doesn't offer a lot of solid action until towards the end.

We're also not sure why so much of the movie was cast in a somber hue of blue (or maybe it was cyan), but it felt distracting at times.

BUTTERNUT STARED OUT INTO THE QUIET BLUE HAZE THAT LAY OVER EVERYTHING, WONDERING WHAT LIFE WOULD BE LIKE IN A MOVIE THAT WAS COLORED NORMALLY.

Faults and all, we found Dark Was the Night to be a solidly engaging movie, that was well-made and featured some strong acting... which is why in its final moments, we were so taken way aback by the final twist; not the really twist itself (which didn't really come as much of a surprise to us), but the way in which it was handled, and that typical, horrible, lazy final shot.

Had the movie not ended the way that it did, we could have forgiven its slow pace and lack of incident, but as it stands that horrible final shot made us drop our opinion by a almost whole letter grade.

THAT ENDING WAS FOR THE BIRDS.

There's a bit of carnage and bloodshed to be had here, but overall, it's not really a gory movie at all.

NIBBLES FROZE IN PLACE, VOWING THAT THE NEXT IDIOT WHO TOUCHED HIM WHILE GETTING THEMSELVES A COFFEE, WOULD FEEL HIS FURRY WRATH.

Nope.

There are creatures in them thar woods. Also, Kevin Durand needs to headline more movies, because the dude makes for a hell of a leading man.

SAME GOES FOR NICK DAMICI.

Quiet, moody, and intense, Dark Was the Night is a solid Creature Feature that is hampered only by its lame final seconds. The color grading was a bit odd too, but not the biggest deal. If nothing else, this movie is worth seeing just to watch Kevin Durand do his quiet, brooding thing to maximum effect. 

Dark Was the Night was hardly a perfect movie, but it was perfectly enjoyable for what it was.

C+

Dark Was the Night is available now on VOD.

Sabina Gadecki and Bianca Kajlich are in this.