The Dark Horse

R

Released Apr 1, 2016

2 hr. 4 min.

Biography

Drama

TRAILER

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List

97%

66 Reviews

Tomatometer

77%

5,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

After suffering a nervous breakdown, chess player Genesis Potini (Cliff Curtis) volunteers to teach a group of disadvantaged children how to play the game.

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Critics Consensus

Led by an outstanding performance from Cliff Curtis, The Dark Horse tackles complex themes with a richly layered, unpredictable, and deeply affecting story.

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Tahu W

Loved it, great nz film

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/16/23

Full Review

Peter G

An emotional & involving film experience which skirts mawkish sentimentality & presents a clear eyed view of the efforts of a homeless chess master to interest a group of aimless Maori young people in the game. Based on a New Zealand Maori chess master with a bi-polar condition & the difficulties he faces in his own life while training & encouraging this group, is a one of a kind film of its type & it leaves a hopeful message that is a fine tribute to the late Genesis Potini, the chess master.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

09/03/23

Full Review

Audience Member

It was ok overall, touching true story that takes place in New Zealand and it was interesting to see how he was able to help give these kids purpose and family while they enjoy playing chess to keep them off the streets.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/13/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Genesis, an old chess champ, returns to civilisation after years of going in and out of mental hospitals. He had a rough youth but found support in his brother and chess games. He returns to his brother, Ariki, since there is no one else, but he is living a harsh life. Staying at home drinking and taking drugs while his only focus is being a key man in a criminal gang. The gang are always at his place - being tough. Ariki has a son that lives in these environments, Mana. This threesome is the main figures here as they all have they're demons to fight. Genesis hooks up with an old mate and starts working with him. A chess club for kids that have little joy in they're lives. They are of to a national championship and this is naturally complicated. A very well told film. Actually a biography, but I'm not sure how similiar it is. I dig the story and there are some very nice acting here. Cliff Curtis as Genesis is amazing. It looks good, but some shaky-cam is a little downer. The music is very good - some NZ rap and some chiller, classical-ish piano vibes are playing at the right moments, creating atmospheres. Quite unheard of, but a very good film. It's emotional and no moments are wasted on unnecessaries. I found the chess tournament period a bit short, but again, 15 more minute of playtime could have been too much in total. 8.5 out of 10 patches.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/17/23

Full Review

tink l

Got to see this in-flight with AirNZ, loved it, I'd say it's Curtis' best performance to date; another great description of NZ's not so spick and span corners, and very real problems, not as violent as "Once were warriors", not as light-hearted and charming as in "boy". Great work.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This movie was based on fact about Genesis 'Gen' Potini (Cliff Curtis), a Maori speed-chess champion seeking redemption and a new purpose in life despite his struggles with bipolar disorder. It tackled complex themes and was richly layered and unpredictable. RT rated it 97%.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/26/23

Full Review

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James Napier Robertson

Director

Cliff Curtis

Genesis

James Rolleston

Mana

Kirk Torrance

Noble

Xavier Horan

Jedi

Miriama McDowell

Sandy

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The Dark Horse: Trailer 1

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Michael Sragow

Film Comment Magazine

The Dark Horse is a rough beauty of a picture.

Apr 29, 2016

Full Review

Nell Minow

Movie Mom

It might get corny but for Robertson's unaffectedly gritty settings and understanding that modest gains can be enough for checkmate.

Rated: B+

Apr 15, 2016

Full Review

Brad Wheeler

Globe and Mail

Curtis is 100-per-cent watchable as a puffy, mumbling shuffler whose chess lessons double as life strategies.

Rated: 3.5/4

Apr 15, 2016

Full Review

Graeme Tuckett

Stuff.co.nz

This is flat-out one of the most entertaining and moving true life stories I have ever seen on a movie screen. The fact that it is a locally made film just delights me.

Sep 9, 2021

Full Review

Hosea Rupprecht

Pauline Center for Media Studies

Cliff Curtis's superb performance as Gen raises a sometimes saccharine genre, that of the inspirational mentor, to amazing heights...

Aug 27, 2021

Full Review

Leslie Combemale

Cinema Siren

The end result shows the best of what feature filmmaking can be.

Rated: A

Oct 22, 2019

Full Review

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Synopsis

After suffering a nervous breakdown, chess player Genesis Potini (Cliff Curtis) volunteers to teach a group of disadvantaged children how to play the game.

Director: James Napier Robertson
Executive Producer: Timothy White, Cliff Curtis
Screenwriter: James Napier Robertson
Distributor: Broad Green Pictures
Rating: R (Language Throughout|Drug Use)
Genre: Biography, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 1, 2016, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 12, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $143.6K

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