DARK SKIES

DARK SKIES

"Two possibilities exist … Either we are alone in the universe or we are not. Both are equally terrifying".

Arthur C Clarke’s famous quote opens DARK SKIES, somewhat undermining the film’s first hour in which a series of unexplained happenings have a regular American family (but not the viewer) baffled as to their cause.

Meet the Barretts. Daniel (Josh Hamilton) is the head of the family, looking desperately for work while struggling to maintain a veneer of domestic contentment amongst his neighbours.

His wife Lacy (Keri Russell) has pressures of her own: she’s a real-estate agent who’s being leaned on by her boss to seal the deal on a certain property. At home, she’s also mother to their two boys, teenager Jesse (Dakota Goyo) and younger Sam (Kaden Rockett).

While Jesse hangs out a lot round his mate Ratner’s (L J Benet) house watching porn, Sam retains his innocence by busying himself tending to an injured lizard he finds in the family garden. Things are so topsy turvy for Daniel and Lacy that they barely notice their kids.

That is, until the strange occurrences begin. One morning Lacy ventures into the kitchen to find the contents of the fridge scattered across the floor. Three different breeds of bird are later inexplicably drawn to the house windows, crashing into them at full force.

Sam, in particular, starts to change. He’s suddenly prone to sleepwalking, peeing himself in public and screaming while in a trance. His childish drawings depict him holding hands with a tall figure. When questioned about this and his recent behaviour, Sam tells his parents he’s not allowed to discuss the matter with them. They fear he’s being abused.

It’s only when Lacy suffers an absence of conscience during a show-around of a property, and later witnesses a glimpse of a shadowy figure looming over Sam in his bedroom, that she begins to think something even more troubling is afoot.

Initially resistant to Lacy’s suggestion that their house has been targeted by aliens, Daniel finally concedes that it’s a possibility – and agrees to a meeting with alien expert, Edwin (J K Simmons).

Are the family being haunted by beings from another planet? If so, to what end – and how can they hope to combat them?

There's nothing like an original sci-fi thriller. And, without question, DARK SKIES is fuck all like an original sci-fi thriller.

I haven't seen a film so reliant on the ideas of former successes in quite some time. You could literally devise a drinking game around the nods, winks and downright thefts from superior genre classics that make up for the bulk of this film. You’d be pissed in no time. I spotted direct lifts from ET: THE EXTRA TERRESTRIAL, CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND, THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT, POLTERGEIST, THE BIRDS, PARANORMAL ACTIVITY, THE X-FILES ... There will be more cribs, I'm certain, but that's enough already, surely?

In fairness, though, writer-director Scott Stewart's film stages each plagiaristic set-piece fairly efficiently. He has a reported $3.5 million budget on his side, admittedly - executive producers Harvey and Bob Weinstein remain an assurance of mainstream polish - and this guy cut his teeth not only as a visual effects artist but also as director of PRIEST and LEGION prior to this mainstream, multiplex-pleasing effort.

Flab-free at 96 minutes in length, DARK SKIES is slick and stylish in its look, while performances are reliable despite the lack of A-list personnel (Simmons is the most well-known face, in what amounts to little more than a cameo appearance). Russell deserves a special nod here for managing to keep a straight face during the unintentionally hilarious scene where she head-butts a window repeatedly while in a trance.

Overall, the film feels very much like the work of early Steven Spielberg or perhaps M Night Shyamalan: highly proficient on a technical level, but a little too safe and cute to ever promise real threat. The core theme is that families must stick together to get through life. While there’s nothing wrong with that sentiment, Stewart joins Spielberg and Shyamalan as being one of those directors who can hammer the sentiment home to a sickly extent, even while delivering a genre picture.

Entertainment One's blu-ray disc presents DARK SKIES uncut in its original 2.40:1 aspect ratio. The MPEG4-AVC file which houses this transfer has a decent bit-rate and makes full use of its full 1080p HD resolution. Blacks are strong and free from blockage, colours are vivid, flesh-tones are accurate, detail is fine while never suffering from undue digital enhancement. DARK SKIES receives a very strong visual representation on blu-ray.

English 5.1 Master HD audio is a strong proposition for the duration of playback, though the film itself isn't as muscular as other sci-fi flicks of late in terms of speaker-challenging set-pieces. Optional English subtitles are well-written and easy to read.

A subtly animated main menu contains pop-up menus which include a scene-selection menu allowing access to the film via 12 chapters.

Extras begin with an audio commentary track from Stewart, producer Jason Plum, editor Peter Gvozdas and executive producer Brian Kavanaugh-Jones. This foursome offers up a dependable mix of entertaining insight and technical information. Interestingly, they discuss how the original script placed the film within the "found footage" sub-genre. Its evolution from there is explained comprehensively and Stewart takes time later to discuss the film’s themes in satisfying depth.

Next up are 21 minutes of alternate and extended scenes. Although these look nice, they don't bring much of further interest to the table. An alternate ending adds more silliness to the predictable twist which was used.

The disc is defaulted to open with trailers for ENDER'S GAME, THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS: CITY OF BONES, 21 AND OVER and DEAD MAN DOWN.

DARK SKIES is derivative and feels far too safe to genuinely thrill. Still, its polished delivery and competent performances make it an easy-going rental if nothing else.

Also available on DVD.

Review by Stuart Willis


 
Released by Entertainment One
Region B
Rated 18
Extras :
see main review
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