DARKEST DAY

DARKEST DAY

A low budget independent British horror film, with zombies. Before you groan - as I had to stifle myself from doing - let's take a closer look and see if this one can distinguish itself from the countless other films of this ilk that we've seen in recent years...

Dan (Dan Rickard) wakes up on Brighton beach with no recollection as to how he got there. But something is amiss. The place is seemingly deserted at first; as he finds his feet and begins to wander, it becomes apparent to Dan that there are hordes of fast-moving ghouls menacing the area - locals infected by some mysterious virus, who have become zombie-like and ravenous for human flesh to boot.

He spies two fellow survivors on the otherwise barren city streets and makes off in their direction. As they flee from him, they're attacked and one succumbs to a member of the infected community. Dan is able to catch up with the remaining survivor and is thus led to a group of annoyingly student-type young adults who - despite initial reservations - welcome him into their fold, and into their hedonistic communal home.

For a time, the monsters outside seem to be of little concern to this household. Its occupants are more interested in playing cards, boozing and squabbling over food supplies.

This should at least provide ample security for the bewildered Dan, of course, were it not for the soldiers who are roaming the city streets by this time. Adorned in gasmasks and carrying heavy artillery, they waste little time in making it clear that they are not only interested in gunning down zombies, but also in pursuing the group of survivors. In particular, they want Dan. Why? He can't remember. But he's not about to hang around and ask...

As the group are forced to flee their refuge in search of the supposed safe-haven of a manor house in the country, the military give chase. And, lest we forget, the infected ghouls also continue to terrorise the otherwise desolate streets...

Rickard also writes and directs on a reputed budget of just £1,000.00. It has to be said, on a technical level, the results are very impressive indeed. Shot on digital equipment, the look of DARKEST DAY is great. Keen cinematography assures the film is always attractive to behold; canny colour correction and filters achieve a persuasively faux filmic veneer to events. Just like the recent THE SLEEPING ROOM, the filmmakers must’ve got up at the crack of dawn to catch Brighton’s scenic splendour at its eerily quietest. The atmosphere garnered from the footage of such solitude is undeniably imposing.

In fact, in almost all respects production values look far greater than the meagre budget suggests. CGI is used very effectively, affording local buildings an appearance of total devastation. They even manage to make three army uniforms look like many more by the time they’ve been seamlessly cut-and-pasted several times into a single scene. It’s also heart-warming to see good use of old-school techniques being employed, such as helicopter miniatures utilised convincingly during the film’s explosive action set-pieces. We even get a fair bit of flesh-eating gore towards the show’s end.

So, what are the film’s downsides? We’ll start with the plot, which firstly robs rather brazenly from 28 DAYS LATER (the premise; the empty streets; the fast-paced infected) before petering out altogether and not really knowing where to go once we’ve hit the halfway point. Then there’s Rickard’s screenwriting skills, which are still very much in development: though there’s no abundance of dialogue, what there is of it often embarrasses by virtue of risible clichés and unconvincing character traits (specifically the earlier scenes in the house of booze ‘n’ cards). Characters are never elaborated on, to the point that they’re not only instantly forgettable but they make no emotional connection whatsoever with their audience – you’ll be hard-pushed not to simply shrug whenever they bite the bullet.

Factor in moments of ill-advised, uneven humour, and a conspiracy plot that never really grows (why are the military pursuing Dan? Are you bothered?), and DARKEST DAY begins to fail as anything more than an aesthetic achievement against budgetary odds.

Still, the film works well on a visual level and makes for a fine calling card in Rickard’s name, should he be looking to be tasked with a bigger budget and a more proficient screenplay in the future.

Good luck to him.

Left Films’ DVD presents DARKEST DAY uncut and in its original 16x9 aspect ratio. The digital photography is predictably pin-sharp and looks grand here. There are no issues with noise or unwelcome edge enhancing. Blacks and colours remain sturdy throughout, as do detail and depth of field.

English 2.0 and 5.1 audio mixes both do a sterling job of playback – no complaints here.

A static main menu page leads us into an animated scene selection menu, proffering access to the film via 8 chapters.

Bonus features begin with an illuminating 30-minute Making Of documentary, which really is an essential companion piece to the main feature. We learn how much of the dialogue was actually improvised on the shoot (which explains a lot), how the effects were achieved with next-to-nothing in terms of resources, and how the film was completed over the course of several years. Interspersed with on-location footage, this offers a tremendous insight into the film’s making. Intriguingly, we’re also told of how the film is a development of an original short made several years earlier. Alas, said short does not feature on this DVD.

We also get a revealing director's commentary track, which will be invaluable listening to any burgeoning DIY filmmakers out there, and two short trailers for the main feature.

The disc defaults to open with trailers for SACRAMENT and ZOMBIE RESURRECTION.

DARKEST DAY showcases a new director with real promise. The film is lacking in terms of plot and dramatic engagement, but there are enough plus points here to recommend it as one to watch.

Review by Stuart Willis


 
Released by Left Films
Region 2
Rated 18
Extras :
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