With there being so many horror films coming out every year it seems the ones that actually make it to theaters are usually not all that great with the occassional good one. Dark House is one that never made it to theaters nationwide (in the United States), but really could of thrived if given the chance. This film has the notorious Victor Salva in the director's chair which may turn some fans of the horror genre away, but let me say that the best thing to do is forget who directed it and give it a chance. Let this autopsy begin!Dark House follows Nick Di Santo who is curse with the power that makes him see how the person who he touches will die. Months later after his mother dies in a horrible fire at a mental hospital he decides to continue his search to find out who his father is. His pregnant girlfriend and best friend follow him on his journey which leads them to an old abandoned house that was believed to of been destroyed over 20 years ago. Things are not as they seem and go from bad to worse the more Nick digs into the history of the house. Surrounded by mysterious axe wielding men will they all get out alive or are they all doomed?!
Initially I thought this was going to be just another film about someone with a supernatural ability and what I got was something better and way more awesome. Yes they do show what he can do, but really it's not the primary focus especially when you get one twist after another that kept me on the edge of my seat. The twists were not just something added in for no good reason just to falsely try and keep the film interesting, they actually are the opposite and feel like they need to be in there. I can say if you have been looking for a truly smart and scary horror film then I do think Dark House is the one you have been looking for.
On top of the great directing and writing that this film possesses there is also a fantastic cast of actors/actresses that make these characters come to life and make them believable. The most recognizable is Tobin Bell who plays as Sam which is a mysterious man who occupies the house Nick has been searching for, and he does an amazing job. There is also fantastic performances by Luke Kleintank as Nick Di Santo, Anthony Rey Perez as Ryan, Alex McKenna as Eve, and Zack Ward as Chris to name a few. The cast is simply wonderful and really help to make their characters believable and also make you connect with them and want to see the best/worst happen to them. Really I could not see anyone else in the roles.
The presentation of this film is very top notch and fantastic looking. I'm not sure if they used film or digital to record this film, but it looks amazing nonetheless. The detail and colors are strong, also the dark scenes have deep blacks. The audio is great as well, very clear and bold. To top it off there is a pretty cool little "making of" featurette that goes from the conception to release of the film. Overall this is a great presentation for a fantastic horror film!
-Daniel "Damnation" Lee
Director: Victor Salva
Lead Actor/Actress: Tobin Bell, Luke Kleintank
Genre: Horror
Blu-ray Release Year: 2014
Theatrical Release Year: 2013
Time Length: 102 mins.
Rating: R
Region Code: Region A
Release Company: Cinedigm
Website: www.darkhousethemovie.com