Posted this review somewhere else, but figured I'd repost here since a few people on here were interested in the film.
(http://www.vampyres-online.com/images/alt_darkness_big.jpg)
Darkness is a film that I've been looking for, for a hell of a long time. I first heard of the film shortly after seeing Evil Dead, when I began my search for anything horror. I can't remember what site I first read about it on, but I will always remember the one sheet they had. The image is of that above, and to this day it's one of my favorite promotional images from any film.
Darkness was made by Leif Jonker from 1989-1991 and saw release on video around 1993. The film is about a bad ass vampire named Liven who is going through Kansas turning townsfolk into bloodthirsty killers. The film follows a teenager named Tobe as he goes throughout the towns on his hunt for Liven. He joins up with a group of teens who were out of town at a concert when their town was attacked. From there, it's a gore filled fight against the armies of vampires.
The film starts at a great pace, with a young guy running into a gas station shortly before dawn. He's covered in blood and raving about someone coming who will kill them all. A female cop in the gas station tries to calm him down, but he steals her pistol and splatters his brains all over the walls. Immediatly after, Liven shows up and proceeds to decimate everyone in the store except for Tobe, who escapes to his home...only to find his mother and sister dead. These first few minutes contain more action, gore and fun than any horror film I've seen in years.
One thing that one must mention when speaking of the film is the gore. Jonker along with Gary Miller (Tobe) put together some absolutely superb effects, considering the budget. Throughout the film, there are gunshot wounds, scenes of flesh eating, skin melted off by holy water (including a great one w/ Leif), chainsaw attacks, melting bodies, etc etc. The finale of the film is just absolute brillance as far as the gore goes. Take a look at that poster for the film, and then times that by 1000.
I love the transfer of the film as well. Apparently, when the film was finished filming, Leif didn't have enough money for a real post production process. Instead, he cut the film and then projected it on the wall of his friend's kitchen and then filmed that with a video camera. From then on, that video has been the only one available until Barrel Entertainment stepped up and offered Leif the chance to remaster the film. Now the film looks crisp and the sound is great. The grain is still there, as it should be, being as it was filmed on Super-8. The grain and look of the Super-8 really helps the film, in the same way that the grain helped Texas Chainsaw Massacre. It gives the film a dream like quality and adds another level to the film.
The music in the film is to be noted as well. Jonker apparently loves metal and it shows here. The film is filled with hardcore metal and I loved it. You can tell that in the 80s while everyone was listening to Bon Jovi, Jonker was listening to Cannibal Corpse, Iron Maiden, Anthrax and the such. Forget the emo-metal-goth bulls**t that plays today, this guy knows real metal.
I'm so happy I finally got this one on DVD. I had the chance to see it a couple of years ago at the Nevermore Film Fest here in NC but fell quite sick the weekend of the festival. I'd absolutely love to see this one on the big screen with an audience. The reactions would without a doubt be absolutely priceless.
I honestly believe that if Jonker had made this film in the 70s, although not possible - the guy was born in the 70s, he would be listed with Romero, Hooper, Craven and Raimi as the masters of modern horror. This guy needs to do some more work!
If you like films such as Evil Dead, Dead Next Door or even the Plaga Zombie films, then pick this one up. The double disc is pretty cheap over at deepdiscountdvd.com. Buy it and support indie movie-making at it's absolute best.
Rating: 10/10
Wow!
This sounds like a really kickass film!
Is it an American film or foreign?
It sounds really good but the folks over at the IMDB say otherwise.
Read here (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106669/)
It got extremely mixed reviews.
One of these days I'll have to check it out.
Thanks for the review!
Ash,
It's completely American.
I can understand the mixed reviews. Like I said, it's seriously low budget. The lighting is very off in many scenes and the acting is terrible. Aside from the problems, the film is just FUN. It's obvious that Jonker loved the Evil Dead films and he faithfully captures that same type of spirit in his film. It's homemade, gory, and a blast. It's certainly a film that belongs on this site.
I've seen enough crap made for 10, 20, 50, and 100 times as much, and more, than the paltry budget used to make Darkness using a super 8 movie camera. The end result is a home movie that is well above most any horror movie made for the same budget (I frankly can't think of another horror movie made for 10 times the budget which compares).
What you won't find in Darkness includes stellar acting (or much good acting for that matter) and a deep, involved plot.
What you will find is an amazingly frenetic action/horror movie which truly throws buckets of blood at you. The plot is barebone, but it keeps the story moving by not dragging the movie down; a smart choice on Jonker's part as he is dealing with people who largely cannot act very well and any attempts at extended dialogue would tear down the film.
The gore is very well done for a no-budget film; hell, the gore is more well done than Evil Dead and many zombie movies which cost a whole lot more to do.
The end result is a film which strangely emotes a feeling of despair and impending doom. Had Jonker perhaps tried to put in more story, he could have hurt the overall feeling and pace of the movie. I do believe he knew exactly what he wanted to accomplish and succeeded in that regard.
If you compare this to a multi-million dollar Hollywood movie, with expensive sets and accomplished actors, it is not going to stand up well on a superficial basis. For a movie which was made on a home movie camera, using friends for actors, using homemade special effects, and shot in people's homes and at local businesses, for next to nothing, you have an end result which is well above its origins and very satisfying.
H. G. Lewis made films in a basement fashion with a bigger budget than Jonker had, and he did not make anything better than Jonker made (I am going to get so much feedback on that one).
If you are into low budget movies, Darkness will more that make-up for a lot of the crap you have to wade through to find a good one. If you prefer glossy Hollywood style movies, you would do well to avoid this.
Wow Menard!
You've said more in this post than in 10 of your previous posts combined.
You must really like this movie!
ASHTHECAT Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Wow Menard!
> You've said more in this post than in 10 of your
> previous posts combined.
> You must really like this movie!
I liked it; but I'm not in love with it like Skaboi is.
I think he found a replacement for Jennifer Connelly (http://smileys.on-my-web.com/repository/Tongue/mockery-022.gif)
(just funnin' ya Skaboi)
Connelly might as well be dead to me Menard. I saw Dark Water recently...enough said!
I'm sure DARKNESS is a good low budget Vampire film from the early 90's and I will watch for it.
Hey Menard........if your so in love with this movie why don't you marry it. (http://smileys.on-my-web.com/repository/Laughing/lol-049.gif)