SUPER DARK TIMES (2017)

Directed By: Kevin Phillips 
Written By: Ben Collins & Luke Piotrowski 
Cinematography By: Eli Born 
Editor: Ed Yonaitis 


Cast: Owen Campbell, Charlie Tahan, Elizabeth Cappuccino, Max Talisman, Sawyer Barth, Amy Hargreaves, Adea Lennox 


Teenagers Zach and Josh have been best friends their whole lives, but when a gruesome accident leads to a cover-up, the secret drives a wedge between them and propels them down a rabbit hole of escalating paranoia and violence.

This is definitely a film that is best to go into blind. As half the enjoyment is the discovery. Which is what films are supposed to be anyway, but here that is the strongest element. As this is a film you have to truly let lead the way.

The film has a prologue that really has nothing to do with the rest of the film, but allows the filmmakers to see the tone and mood of the film. Though the title gives it away also. The audience still can't expect to be truly prepared for what comes.

The film feels more like a true crime story by the end. As it feels like an urban legend that teens pass down and claim the adults don't want you to know the truth. Or a news story you remember hearing about only here it is more fleshed out. It works as you get pulled into the main characters head and fears and start questioning everything as well.

Once it ends you kind of want more. You want to know the consequences. As the film only seems to give an open particular answer. So that at least it draws the audience in.

The film making is so precise especially when it comes to emotion and tone which sneaks up on you. As you notice the style. As it all seems so little at first. So that when the second half of the film comes along it feels natural but still packs a bit of a surprise. The film is crisply shot. It is constantly filled with dread.

The film is scary though not a horror film. So that it manages to really set the audience up to care and be affected by the various characters actions.

It builds slowly but strongly and confidently. As you don't know of this is the result of an overactive imagination with an equal dose of youthful paranoia or if they are correct in their suspicions and actions.

The film is set before cellphones and the internet as to keep opportunities that modern technology would cover and answer and still have mystery and ambiguity that help push the actions forward. Which might be why you see more and more films. Revolve around the past. As it might be harder to come up with stories that cellphones kill the suspense of. Which also allows a nostalgic feel as this tale involves teenagers. But served as an adult audience as reminder and a time to identify with.

The film also seems to be a character study as the character deal with different forms of grief .

Though at least it's a coming of age thriller her feels original and not a paint by numbers script that seeks to appeal to every demographic. The film reminds one of I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER, There are plenty of comparisons with the characters living with guilt over a crime they did. With paranoia rising as to the discovery and the guilt. As the film does work as a teen horror film with consequences and more gritty. What really works for this film is what it makes out of what could be so little.

GRADE: B