***SPOILERS*** ***SPOILERS*** As kids we most likely never feared the concept of the Tooth Fairy. But in the new movie DARKNESS FALLS, losing a tooth could be enough to scare you to death. The film opens with the old legend of a Darkness Falls resident named Matilda Dixon, a kind old woman who falls victim to a house fire that horribly disfigures her face. She apparently walked around with a porcelain mask to hide her features, but in an effort to continue her kind ways would place a coin under the pillow of local children who lost their last tooth. When two kids disappeared from the town, Dixon was immediately accused, and burned at the stake. Before dying, she cursed the town saying that which she did in life will be her revenge in death, and that all who look upon her face will suffer. All of this is explained in the first few minutes of the movie, so don't walk in late! Several years later the legend Matilda Dixon, a.k.a. the Tooth Fairy, haunts the minds of children in Darkness Falls, but is believed to be nothing more than a fable. One night after talking to his girlfriend Caitlin, a young boy named Kyle is visited by the Tooth Fairy, and despite knowing not to peek he looks into the eyes of the unspeakable horror that appears to be all too real. Young Kyle runs to his mom for comfort, but unfortunately she falls victim in his place. The one thing that keeps him safe is the light of the bathroom he hides in. The boy is blamed for the mysterious murder, but his girlfriend Caitlin feels he may actually be innocent. Cut to twelve years later. Caitlin (Emma Caulfield) is grown up, and her younger brother Michael now suffers from sleep depravation, and is constantly scared of something he can't explain. Not knowing who to turn to, she looks up Kyle (Chaney Kley, who looks so much like VAN WILDER star Ryan Reynolds he could probably sign the guy's checks), who now lives away from Darkness Falls in paranoid solitude. He surrounds himself with bright lamps and flashlights galore, while constantly looking over his shoulder in dark spaces. Kyle reluctantly returns to his hometown, hoping to help Michael, but his infamous legend follows him home. The people of the town don't trust him, though Caitlin seems to still feel a strong attachment to her childhood sweetheart. It quickly becomes apparent that Kyle's fears and Michael's problems have a definite connection The Tooth Fairy is obviously determined to get both of them, and she's more than happy to take out anyone who gets in the way. Can Caitlin, Kyle and Michael stay in the light long enough to find a way to defeat this monstrous evil?
DARKNESS FALLS is perhaps one of the scariest movies I've ever seen. There are more jumpy moments than I could keep track of. The film follows the basic rules of it's genre, and handles them well. All the elements of a good horror film are here. The antagonist is very creepy, and the filmmakers aren't shy about including her in the scene as often as possible. Emma Caulfield, who many know from the BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER series, spends most of her time just looking worried. Chaney Kley is the only one who knows what's going on, and continually tells everyone to stay in the light, though few seem to listen. He does a fine job of playing the hero, but there is little emotion to his character, which is probably the biggest mistake of the film. The rest of the cast his little to do, and seem like nothing more than Fairy fodder. Hey, did I just coin a phrase? The movie basically says "here's the evil, now let's watch the good guys run away from it" for 90 minutes. The PG-13 rating mean the gore never gets too gory, but it's okay, cause the scare factor is still there. I've honestly never heard that many gasps during a movie. The title went through multiple changes before DARKNESS FALLS was decided on. At one point the film was going to simply be called THE TOOTH FAIRY. I kinda liked the sound of that better. It feels more like a horror franchise name that DARKNESS FALLS. Where do they go from here, RETURN TO DARKNESS FALLS? DARKNESS FALLS AGAIN? Considering the modest names in the cast, and the low-budget clues you might catch here and there (at one point you can hear a somewhat amusing sound-alike Johnny Cash song in the background), I think all in all the film is pretty impressive. As far as horror films go, it does a fine job, and I can honestly say I wouldn't mind seeing more done with those characters. Director Jonathan Liebesman knows how to frighten us, but might want to watch the use of shaky cam shots. What's most impressive is the use of sound. It's amazing how scary the moan of an old woman can be in the dark. There's nothing too new here, but what we get is still good. If you see it in a crowded theater, you're in for a fun experience.
On a scale of ONE to TEN, 10 being the best, I give DARKNESS FALLS a 8.
DARKNESS FALLS is perhaps one of the scariest movies I've ever seen. There are more jumpy moments than I could keep track of. The film follows the basic rules of it's genre, and handles them well. All the elements of a good horror film are here. The antagonist is very creepy, and the filmmakers aren't shy about including her in the scene as often as possible. Emma Caulfield, who many know from the BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER series, spends most of her time just looking worried. Chaney Kley is the only one who knows what's going on, and continually tells everyone to stay in the light, though few seem to listen. He does a fine job of playing the hero, but there is little emotion to his character, which is probably the biggest mistake of the film. The rest of the cast his little to do, and seem like nothing more than Fairy fodder. Hey, did I just coin a phrase? The movie basically says "here's the evil, now let's watch the good guys run away from it" for 90 minutes. The PG-13 rating mean the gore never gets too gory, but it's okay, cause the scare factor is still there. I've honestly never heard that many gasps during a movie. The title went through multiple changes before DARKNESS FALLS was decided on. At one point the film was going to simply be called THE TOOTH FAIRY. I kinda liked the sound of that better. It feels more like a horror franchise name that DARKNESS FALLS. Where do they go from here, RETURN TO DARKNESS FALLS? DARKNESS FALLS AGAIN? Considering the modest names in the cast, and the low-budget clues you might catch here and there (at one point you can hear a somewhat amusing sound-alike Johnny Cash song in the background), I think all in all the film is pretty impressive. As far as horror films go, it does a fine job, and I can honestly say I wouldn't mind seeing more done with those characters. Director Jonathan Liebesman knows how to frighten us, but might want to watch the use of shaky cam shots. What's most impressive is the use of sound. It's amazing how scary the moan of an old woman can be in the dark. There's nothing too new here, but what we get is still good. If you see it in a crowded theater, you're in for a fun experience.
On a scale of ONE to TEN, 10 being the best, I give DARKNESS FALLS a 8.