I Used to Be Darker

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I Used to Be Darker

Released Oct 4, 2013

1h 30m

Drama

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Popcornmeter

81%

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21 Reviews

43%

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250+ Ratings

A runaway (Deragh Campbell) seeks refuge with a relatives (Ned Oldham, Kim Taylor) whose marriage is coming to a bitter end.

Sheri Linden

Los Angeles Times

It's a story of contained chaos, quietly observed - one that catches fire more in retrospect than in the viewing.

Aug 20, 2016

Full Review

Adam Nayman

Globe and Mail

Porterfield's film doesn't offer much in the way of plot, but the ways the characters bounce off one another in small spaces are precisely observed, and the actors have a lot of soul ...

Rated: 3.5/4

May 9, 2014

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Peter Howell

Toronto Star

Unfolds like a music album, with emotive songs supplying information that doesn't need repeating in the lean screenplay, which the director co-wrote with Amy Belk.

Rated: 3/4

May 8, 2014

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Ray Pride

Newcity

Jeremy Saulnier's summer-spent cinematography is gentle and nothing shy of exquisite.

Apr 5, 2014

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Marty Mapes

Movie Habit

Slow scenes at the beginning turn into the pace of life

Rated: 3.5/4

Jan 31, 2014

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Walter Chaw

Film Freak Central

a celebration if you can call something this downbeat celebratory, of what film should act like and look like when you leave it alone.

Rated: 3/4

Nov 26, 2013

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Audience Member

I couldn't get into it. Mad Boring.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

02/07/23

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Audience Member

I rather enjoyed Porterfield Putty Hill and was looking forward to his follow-up but I Used to be Darker just didn't work for me. The story of a runaway teen who escapes across the ocean to hide out with her aunt and cousin, the movie seems at a loss as to what story it wants to tell. It opens with Taryn, the runaway teen, suggesting this is her story but as soon as she arrives in Baltimore, the story veers away from her and focuses on the live of the her aunt, uncle and cousin - a life that is currently experiencing a rocky patch. I Used to be Darker loses focus early on and doesn't manage to recapture it, along the way losing my interest. Good performance from Deragh Campbell in the title role and a surprise appearance early on by Adèle Exarchopoulos but it doesn't live up to the idea. One thing I will give it is that the movie looks fantastic. You can thank Blue Ruin director Jeremy Saulnier for that. He was dp here.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/15/23

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Audience Member

Boring as hell, with souless characthers and a solid story.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

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Audience Member

Beautifully filmed story of a summer in Baltimore in which a musician wife leaves her husband and daughter. Complacating matters is the arrival of a runaway pregnant teenage neice from Northern Ireland. The leisurely lazy mood of summer masks a time of change for all. Excellent acting and perfect soundtrack.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/18/23

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Audience Member

Boring. I gave it 45 minutes and turned it off.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

02/11/23

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Audience Member

Amazing music throughout. Both parents are musicians and great ones at that. Every role was really spot on and amazing. So pleasantly surprised with this one!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/22/23

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Matt Porterfield

Director

Deragh Campbell

Taryn

Ned Oldham

Bill

Kim Taylor

Kim

Hannah Gross

Abby

Nicholas Petr

Nick

Gabriel

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Synopsis

A runaway (Deragh Campbell) seeks refuge with a relatives (Ned Oldham, Kim Taylor) whose marriage is coming to a bitter end.

Director: Matt Porterfield
Producer: Eric Bannat, Brooke Bernard, Steve Holmgren, Amy Dotson
Screenwriter: Amy Belk, Matt Porterfield
Distributor: Strand Releasing
Production Co: The Hamilton Film Group, Nomadic Independence Pictures, Steady Orbits
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 4, 2013, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 29, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $22.0K
Runtime: 1h 30m

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