Dark Was the Night

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Allan C Well-drawn characters. Dull werewolf-like story. Dark Was the Night (2014) **1/2 I've been loving horror director Mike Finnegan's quote that the best horror movies are those where, if you took out all the supernatural elements, you'd still be interested in the story and characters (i.e., THE EXORCIST, CARRIE, ROSEMARY'S BABY, etc.). This film kind of does that, but the problem is that even if the characters are interesting, the fantastical elements are SO boring! Kevin Durand, an underrated and versatile actor who's done everything genre TV (LOST, LOCKE & KEY) to horror/comedy (TRAGEDY GIRLS) to supporting parts in big budget Hollywood flicks (WALKING TALL, X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE, NOAH,) plays A sheriff dealing with familial and personal issues, and his deputy is adjusting to small town life after moving from NYC for reasons he doesn't like to talk about. Most all of the characters, even supporting ones, one of which is actor/writer Nick Damici (STAKE LAND, WE ARE WHAT WE ARE, COLD IN JULY), are interesting and well developed, which the audience will find compelling. This is the best part of the film, and if the film had focused more on that, it might have been an interesting character drama. What brings the film down is that the werewolf-like story is not all that interesting. There are a few okay suspense scenes, but most monster scenes feel lazy and uninspired. I was particularly put off by the photography, which has a perpetual blue tint and is often boring and flatly lit. Horror films should be stylishly photographed and shot, but this one hardly makes an effort to make the film visually interesting. And without spoiling anything, the ending had a cliched tag ending that was completely unnecessary, which I'm sure audiences will roll their eyes at. There was a lot of potential with this cast and script, but the execution drags everything good about the film down. FUN FACT: The film was based on the 1800s UK "The Devil's Footprints" incident, where mysterious hoof-like footprints appeared in the snow for two days in 1855 for 100 miles, appearing to pass through walls and over rooftops, marking a route in a perfect straight line.  AI CAPSULE REVIEW: Dark Was the Night features strong, well-developed characters and a solid cast—especially Kevin Durand—but the supernatural plot falls flat, failing to generate real suspense or originality. Despite its potential as a grounded character drama, the dull creature elements and uninspired visuals hold it back from being truly memorable. Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 08/03/25 Full Review Nicholas D Nothing original.... The monster provides some suspense but there's far too much focus on the Sherrif's personal life which frankly becomes boring. A weak ending makes the experience ever more disappointing. Rated 1.5/5 Stars •  Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 07/25/25 Full Review Kronos B Dark Was the Night is a quietly atmospheric and brooding horror film that stands out for its strong sense of place, grounded performances, and a well-crafted build-up of suspense. Kevin Durand delivers a standout performance as Sheriff Paul Shields, a man grappling with personal loss while trying to hold his town together as an unseen menace begins picking people off from the shadows. His portrayal adds emotional depth to what could have easily been a by-the-numbers monster movie. The film excels in creating a tense, isolated atmosphere. Its muted color palette and rural setting heighten the feeling of unease, and the slow-burn pacing works well to draw viewers into the mystery of what’s stalking the woods. However, the film isn’t without its flaws. A key issue lies in the creature’s inconsistent behavior. It is shown to be cunning and predatory, yet it inexplicably chooses not to attack the police officer during a critical moment—something that felt more like a narrative convenience than a logical decision by the creature. This moment undercut the otherwise serious tone the film had worked to establish. The ending also leaves something to be desired. After a solid build-up, the film veers into a final act that feels abrupt and unsatisfying. The climactic confrontation lacks the emotional and narrative payoff that the film had been setting up, opting instead for a more conventional horror finale that doesn’t match the film’s earlier subtlety. That said, Dark Was the Night is still a worthy watch for fans of moody, character-driven horror. It may not stick the landing, but the journey—thanks in large part to Durand’s compelling performance and the film’s skillful tension—is still one worth taking. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 07/19/25 Full Review Chris F. Dark Was the Night has a strong concept and a moody atmosphere, but it falls short when it comes to building real suspense. It was an okay watch overall—interesting, but not as tense or memorable as it could have been. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 07/14/25 Full Review Liz W I enjoyed this movie, especially Kevin Durand (who I think is an under valued & utilised actor). He carries the bulk of the film & manages to keep up the tempo, despite the plot not having a lot of true fast paced action or the tried & true gore factor that so many films rely on. Sure this is no academy award quality film & doesn't have top of the line CGI that other thriller monster movies have but considering it is a film that relies mostly on the reactions of the actors to build tension & anticipation they all did a good job. Nice to see Lukas Haas in the film too. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 07/05/25 Full Review David L Not a perfect movie; has a few flaws but they aren’t glaring. This is a horror movie with some depth. Kevin Durand is excellent as a sheriff struggling with guilt and grief who has the responsibility of protecting his small town from a monster. There is a lot to like here. Well acted and well filmed. The flaws are in the script but again, I don’t think they are big enough to derail the enjoyment of a really good horror flick. And Nick DaMici (Stake Land) has minor role, too. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 06/24/25 Full Review Read all reviews

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