In “Darby and the Dead,” the promise of its premise outweighs the delivered product. Director Silas Howard demonstrates his deft capabilities bringing an energetic irreverence and aesthetic buoyancy to the unfurling feature, which is centered on a tormented teen cajoled into helping a recently deceased mean girl get a new life in the afterlife. Unfortunately, despite the film’s undeniable charms and strong lead performances, the fabric it weaves frays as it wears on, undone by clunky character development, trite sentimentality and rushed resolutions.
High schooler Darby Harper (Riele Downs) sees dead people. But unlike Haley Joel Osment’s “Sixth Sense” character, she knows exactly how to help the deceased with their unfinished business. She’s turned it into a full-fledged job, paid only in gratitude, playing spiritual counselor to those she affectionately calls “Deados” who’ve passed away and are stuck in limbo. This special gift was bestowed on...
High schooler Darby Harper (Riele Downs) sees dead people. But unlike Haley Joel Osment’s “Sixth Sense” character, she knows exactly how to help the deceased with their unfinished business. She’s turned it into a full-fledged job, paid only in gratitude, playing spiritual counselor to those she affectionately calls “Deados” who’ve passed away and are stuck in limbo. This special gift was bestowed on...
- 12/1/2022
- by Courtney Howard
- Variety Film + TV
After my dad died, echoes of his raspy breathing haunted me for days. I knew he was gone, but my mind couldn't accept his absence. In dreams, he'd visit me, and I'd awake convinced he was alive. I kept asking an impossible question: would it be sadder to learn that ghosts exist or to learn they didn't? Do we want departed loved ones to surround us forever? Or is eternal rest kinder? Director Silas Howard's "Darby and the Dead" tenderly tackles this topic through a teen horror comedy lens without veering into the saccharine or pandering territory. Few filmmakers have crafted a film about grieving with as much delight, empathy, and candor.
When someone you love dies, people always ask if you want to talk about it, a well-meaning request, but nevertheless frustrating. Grief is a wily combination of confusion, rage, sorrow, guilt, relief, and longing — one hell of...
When someone you love dies, people always ask if you want to talk about it, a well-meaning request, but nevertheless frustrating. Grief is a wily combination of confusion, rage, sorrow, guilt, relief, and longing — one hell of...
- 12/1/2022
- by Cass Clarke
- Slash Film
Though it risks being overshadowed quite spectacularly by The Meg and its own ginormous fish, Deep Blue Sea 2 is now on the verge of hitting Blu-ray and DVD, and the folks over at Bloody Disgusting has uncovered a brand new clip to prove it.
Placing a particular focus on the new characters headlining Darin Scott’s long-in-development horror sequel, up above you’ll see the moment when tensions rise between Dr. Misty Calhoun (Danielle Savre) and pharmaceutical billionaire Carl Durant (Michael Beach), who evidently has more money than sense – much to the horror of Savre’s protagonist.
She soon discovers that Durant and his team are experimenting on bull sharks, a species of fish known for their aggression and killer instinct…and that’s before the humans even begin their tests. As far as shark movies go, this is a pretty familiar calm before the inevitable storm. But with...
Placing a particular focus on the new characters headlining Darin Scott’s long-in-development horror sequel, up above you’ll see the moment when tensions rise between Dr. Misty Calhoun (Danielle Savre) and pharmaceutical billionaire Carl Durant (Michael Beach), who evidently has more money than sense – much to the horror of Savre’s protagonist.
She soon discovers that Durant and his team are experimenting on bull sharks, a species of fish known for their aggression and killer instinct…and that’s before the humans even begin their tests. As far as shark movies go, this is a pretty familiar calm before the inevitable storm. But with...
- 4/16/2018
- by Michael Briers
- We Got This Covered
Cast your mind back to the year 1999, long before talk of the McU and Warner Bros.’ fledging DC Extended Universe, and you’ll likely recall a host of instant cinematic classics in the vein of The Matrix, Fight Club, and The Blair Witch Project.
But there’s another gem buried beneath the pile, and we’re not referring to Star Wars: The Phantom Menace. Instead, we’ll direct your attention to Deep Blue Sea, Renny Harlin’s oceanic thriller that ramped up the stakes by introducing a herd of sharks whose instincts, speed, strength, and size had been dramatically amplified in the name of bio-engineering. Yeah, we’re not sure whose idea it was, either…
Nevertheless, almost two decades later and we’re now on the verge of Deep Blue Sea 2, which promises the same edge-of-your-seat thrill ride, albeit with added bite. It’s coming sooner than you think (April 17th), too,...
But there’s another gem buried beneath the pile, and we’re not referring to Star Wars: The Phantom Menace. Instead, we’ll direct your attention to Deep Blue Sea, Renny Harlin’s oceanic thriller that ramped up the stakes by introducing a herd of sharks whose instincts, speed, strength, and size had been dramatically amplified in the name of bio-engineering. Yeah, we’re not sure whose idea it was, either…
Nevertheless, almost two decades later and we’re now on the verge of Deep Blue Sea 2, which promises the same edge-of-your-seat thrill ride, albeit with added bite. It’s coming sooner than you think (April 17th), too,...
- 4/13/2018
- by Matt Joseph
- We Got This Covered
Cast your mind back to the year 1999, long before talk of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Warner’s fledgling DC Extended Universe, and you’ll likely recall a host of instant cinematic classics in the vein of The Matrix, Fight Club, and The Blair Witch Project.
But there’s another gem hidden beneath the pile, and we’re not referring to Star Wars: The Phantom Menace. Instead, we’ll direct your attention to Deep Blue Sea, Renny Harlin’s maritime thriller that ramped up the stakes by introducing a herd of sharks whose instincts, speed, strength, and size have been dramatically amplified in the name of bio-engineering. Yeah, we’re not sure whose idea it was, either…
Nevertheless, fast forward to 2018, and we’re now on the verge of Deep Blue Sea 2, which promises the same edge-of-your-seat thrill ride, albeit with added bite. It’s coming sooner than you think (April 17th), too,...
But there’s another gem hidden beneath the pile, and we’re not referring to Star Wars: The Phantom Menace. Instead, we’ll direct your attention to Deep Blue Sea, Renny Harlin’s maritime thriller that ramped up the stakes by introducing a herd of sharks whose instincts, speed, strength, and size have been dramatically amplified in the name of bio-engineering. Yeah, we’re not sure whose idea it was, either…
Nevertheless, fast forward to 2018, and we’re now on the verge of Deep Blue Sea 2, which promises the same edge-of-your-seat thrill ride, albeit with added bite. It’s coming sooner than you think (April 17th), too,...
- 4/4/2018
- by Michael Briers
- We Got This Covered
"We're going to pull together and find a way to get out of here! First, we're gonna seal off this pool." Hopefully, this new batch of shark conservationists in Deep Blue Sea 2 doesn't end up like the person I just quoted, Russell Franklin (Samuel L. Jackson) from the first movie, and get eaten by any Great White sharks. We'll find out soon enough when Deep Blue Sea 2 comes to home media on April 17th:
Press Release: Burbank, CA – Building the better shark still isn’t a good idea in Deep Blue Sea 2, the long-awaited sequel to the hit theatrical thriller coming this spring from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment. The feature-length film arrives on Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD, and Digital starting April 17, 2018.
In Deep Blue Sea 2, shark conservationist Dr. Misty Calhoun (Danielle Savre) is invited to consult on a new, top secret project run by pharmaceutical billionaire Carl Durant...
Press Release: Burbank, CA – Building the better shark still isn’t a good idea in Deep Blue Sea 2, the long-awaited sequel to the hit theatrical thriller coming this spring from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment. The feature-length film arrives on Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD, and Digital starting April 17, 2018.
In Deep Blue Sea 2, shark conservationist Dr. Misty Calhoun (Danielle Savre) is invited to consult on a new, top secret project run by pharmaceutical billionaire Carl Durant...
- 2/13/2018
- by Tamika Jones
- DailyDead
The long gestating sequel to Deep Blue Sea is finally set to launch this April, and today brings our first trailer, plus details on the blu-ray. Come inside to learn more.
While I'm never terribly confident in straight to blu-ray sequels, I can't help but be excited for the upcoming release of Deep Blue Sea 2. Despite the goofiness, I really loved the first movie; I admit I'm a sucker for monster/shark movies regardless of the level of ridiculousness. The premise really isn't too far off the rails and made for some tense action sequences.
Word of a sequel have been floating around since its launch nearly 20 years ago (1999), but nothing ever came to fruition until recently. Now it's finally happening and set to launch on blu-ray/digital on April 17, 2018, plus we even get a trailer!
This definitely looks like Deep Blue Sea...to the point of feeling more like a reboot than sequel,...
While I'm never terribly confident in straight to blu-ray sequels, I can't help but be excited for the upcoming release of Deep Blue Sea 2. Despite the goofiness, I really loved the first movie; I admit I'm a sucker for monster/shark movies regardless of the level of ridiculousness. The premise really isn't too far off the rails and made for some tense action sequences.
Word of a sequel have been floating around since its launch nearly 20 years ago (1999), but nothing ever came to fruition until recently. Now it's finally happening and set to launch on blu-ray/digital on April 17, 2018, plus we even get a trailer!
This definitely looks like Deep Blue Sea...to the point of feeling more like a reboot than sequel,...
- 1/30/2018
- by feeds@cinelinx.com (Jordan Maison)
- Cinelinx
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