Enter The Man-Cave Review of “The Darkness Within”
Aug 24by Enter The Man-Cave on Monday, August 23, 2010
I have always thought that the worst mental prison for anyone is to be a victim of paranoia. Paranoid delusions blur the lines between reality and whatever world is being constructed in a paranoid person’s mind. This affliction can cause a sense of constant stress, discomfort when interacting within crowds, distrust of everyone including loved ones, and worst of all, mentally detaching yourself from the real world into a realm of cold and darkness.
This brings me to my review of The Darkness Within, an indie flick screener I received last week. I read some spoiler-free reviews of this over the past month, so I was really looking forward to seeing this flick.
The Pitch
Recently engaged couple Chad and Ashley (Jimmy Scanlon and Michelle Romano) move into an apartment complex somewhere in the Northeast. Their new apartment brings its own minor terrors in the form of crammed living space and a large spider infestation, but the main concern Chad has is with his creepy yet hard ass neighbor Mr. Reed (Ken Flott).
After a strange encounter with him during his first night at the apartment, Chad catches Mr. Reed pulling the good ole’ peeping tom job on him while he is urinating late at night. Of course, Reed disputes this fact, even when Chad goes to the police for help.
Chad’s landlord, or should I say landlord’s daughter, Jordan (Stephanie Maheu) doesn’t know much about Reed, so there is no assistance that can be offered from the owner of the complex. Without any hard evidence or with no one to turn to for help, Chad must figure out the mystery behind Reed and his peeping ways before he loses grips on his own sanity and shatter his relationship with Ashley.
Meat and Potatoes
First and foremost, this is not a horror film, but more of a thriller-mystery-suspense kinda film. If you are looking for shotgun blasts, zombie rampages and buckets of gore, please look for another film. However, before you decide to pass this one up, let me explain a little about why you should take this one in if you can get your hands on it.
The Darkness Within is a slow-paced film. The first 15 minutes or so needs some adjustment and patience from the audience because soon you learn that you are being paced for a reason. There is not a great deal of action and the film is dialogue heavy. As the film keeps moving along. a sense of dread and despair starts to form for our protagonist. You begin to feel the claustrophobic frustration he experiences within his own living area, which is normally always a person’s safe haven in life.
From an antagonist standpoint, Reed brings an unusual sense of fear that you might not be used to experiencing. Reed isn’t your average frail, shy and “creepy dude” character that you normally see in films. Instead, he physically looks pretty intimidating and has a brash confidence. If you confront him, he will look you in the eye and subtly warn you that he is no pushover and will not back down.
The Darkness Within a low budget affair which means it is shot on a meager budget and is not going to have the greatest thespians in the world at your disposal. That should never be an excuse for lack of effort or asking for a sympathy card from your audience. You make a film to entertain people and you should always give it your all whether your budget is $1 or $1 billion.
Director Dom Portalla knows what he is working with and delivers his feature with extreme confidence. You can tell it in his cinematography, lighting and editing. In fact, at one point it’s like he says, “hell yeah I’m using multiple jump cuts”, so the film school rulebook is happily out the window.And the lighting configuration is simply otherworldly.
He also seems to pull the most he can out of his cast. After viewing the special features, it seems as though most of them have been working with him for some time and the fluidity between them is certainly existent. So besides containing a great story, these are other aesthetic reasons why I liked this film.
If I have to throw a negative, I’ll throw it at a low velocity. The web of despair for our lead is interrupted by his several visits to Jordan and her on-and-off again roommate upstairs. I understand that their scenes play out important aspects to the plot later on, but it does disrupt the mood and flow of the film. That aside, I did enjoy those Shelby and her roommate’s presence and interactions with Chad on their own separate from the context of the film.
Those two characters, especially the Jordan character, need to have her own film. Seriously, while the actress playing Ashley is very attractive, Stephanie Maheu as Jordan had the ETMC babe pulse beating at a serious high. She is definitely a cutie with some attitude and I enjoyed seeing her every on screen appearance. So big thanks to Portalla for supplying the chick factor to Darkness.
Final Act
Very rarely do I get duped and cannot figure out an ending to a film at about the midway point, but let me tell you that this whole movie is a set of quick jabs and the final act throws a nasty right hook that knocked me to the mat. An intriguing ending that I have to give high praise to the director for pulling off in a believable manner..
If you can understand that you are witnessing a psychological thriller and not a full blown horror film with a major gore factor, then you are in for a helluva ride. Hopefully this one gets a distribution deal soon so that the masses can see it. It is leaps and bounds better than some of the crap that is currently on the video store shelves. And trust me and my “Amateur Hour” installments when I say I know so.
More Ink on “The Darkness Within”
Aug 10
The Liberal Dead have placed “The Darkness Within” on their
10 Indie Flicks That Deserve Your Dollars list along with their
Letter To Hollywood.
“The Darkness Within” came out of left field and has become one of my top picks for 2010, so far. With a remarkable story, believable acting and an ending that will leave your mind blown, this is a must see for any horror fan. Made on a budget of almost nothing, “The Darkness Within” is a perfect example of indie filmmaking in its purest most guerilla form.”
-Source
“The Darkness Within” is a perfect example at how to base a movie around a plot twist mechanic without it feeling tacked on at the last minute like many of your recent attempts, Hollywood. Also take note of the writing quality and how it makes up for lack of budget in every way.”
-Source
New Door Eleven Site!
Aug 06Welcome to our new website! Feel free to browse around and check out all of our flicks, music videos and reviews of our latest feature film, “The Darkness Within”.
Keep us bookmarked and please check in frequently for news, updates, screening information & release dates.
Most of all, thank you for supporting your local independent film scene!
Much love,
“Duality” [2007] | Feature Film
Aug 06Door Eleven Productions first feature film in it’s entirety.
“DUALITY” is a micro budget crime/comedy surrounding an unusual case of mistaken identity. Ken Flott stars as Darrien Walcott, an unmotivated, alcoholic loser who’s going nowhere in life. To make matters worse, he has yet again been confused for his identical twin brother, Travis (also played by Flott). After learning of his brothers twenty thousand dollar debt owed to low-level drug dealer, Gage Craydon, (first time actor, Anthony Cogliandro) he’s informed that the debt is now on his head and he’s only got until the end of the day to come up with the cash. With the help of two of Gage’s thugs, Mason & Alex (Rohne Monte & Alexander Hedquist), Darrien will set out to retrace his brothers steps and slowly learn that there’s always two sides to every story. Marking the writing and directorial debut of Boston filmmaker Dom Portalla, what ensues is a day-in-the-life of disorganized crime.
“The Darkness Within” [2010] | official feature film trailer
Aug 06Door Eleven Productions presents
“THE DARKNESS WITHIN”
Chad Morgan and Ashley Sera are starting their new life together. They’ve recently gotten engaged and have moved into an apartment in a new town. Everything is seemingly perfect; except for one thing their next-door neighbor, Mr. Reed. After a bizarre encounter, Chad begins to realize that if he doesn’t unlock the secret to this mysterious voyeur soon, he may lose everything – including his mind.
Official Selection – Magnolia Film Festival – 2010
Official Selection – Fright Night Film Fest – 2010
Official Selection – Rock & Shock Film Festival – 2010
Official Selection – Minneapolis Underground Film Festival – 2010
Website:
doorelevenproductions.com/darkness
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