Director: Paul Solet
Cast: Keir Gilchrist , Stella Maeve, Peter Stormare, Grace Phipps
Certificate: 15
Running Time: 79 minutes
Tied for years to the slasher/torture porn over-the-top gore fests, the horror genre lost any semblance of atmosphere. In recent months though we’ve seen it turn a bend for the better with several very clever and innovative projects hitting our shores; THE BABADOOK, STARRY EYES and IT FOLLOWS have all shown that less is always more. The latest movie to attempt this refreshing approach is DARK SUMMER which deals with in-vogue topics such as cyber stalking and the ramifications that it can have, and much like IT FOLLOWS the power of teenage friendship.
As well as sharing a theme, horror connoisseurs will recognise the film’s protagonist Keir Gilchrist as the perpetually friend-zoned Paul in IT FOLLOWS. As Daniel, Gilchrist creates a rather odd lead character that we aren’t quite sure whether we should believe or not. As good as Gilchrist is, its the ladies that own the film. Stella Maeve is heart-breaking, if not a little weird, as Daniels lovelorn best friend and Grace Phipps is arresting as ‘object of Daniel’s desires’ Mona. Phipps is slightly underused but effectively kookily creepy within each scene. Also joining the young cast is honorary adult Peter Stomare (the guy the compys ate in JURASSIC PARK: THE LOST WORLD) as Daniel’s suspicious case worker. One of the best ‘that guys’ out there, Stomare once more turns in a great performance.
The premise of DARK SUMMER is effectively a paranormal DISTURBIA, something that they don’t even try to mask with Daniel’s best gal pal remarking his ankle tag and house arrest is just like the aforementioned film – Shia even gets a name drop. Left by his mother, Daniel finds himself home alone for summer, with no way to leave thanks to his house arrest. A ghost story set in a haunted house that can not be escaped is an interesting idea and, although lived in, there is something quite unsettling about how desolate the building is. Daniel’s absent parents highlight the struggles that a lot of teens face.
The devil is in the detail as they say and although only a svelte 79 minute run time DARK SUMMER has a lot of plot strands to piece together. The downside is that whilst THE BABADOOK and STARRY EYES benefited from having a slow burn, in DARK SUMMER it feels a little too slow. The final third comes almost out of nowhere leaving the viewer racing to catch up; it spins a deeply tangled web that you will need to concentrate on to unpick.
DARK SUMMER has an eerie air to it, and an interesting concept but falls foul of it’s own pacing.
[usr=3] DARK SUMMER is available now to buy and on digital download.
