A family of four experiences strange happenings in their home,
and soon believe they've been targeted for alien abduction. HORROR/SCI-FI
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Dark Skies (2013)Written and Directed by Scott Stewart
Starring Keri Russell, Josh Hamilton, Dakota Goyo, Kadan Rockett, J.K. Simmons, L.J. Benet, Annie Thurman |
Dark Skies is one of the most eerie horror flicks of the 2010's, and a true master class in suspense and atmosphere. Writer/director Scott Stewart tells an alien abduction story with the style of a haunted house style, resulting in a creepy hybrid that's unlike any other alien thriller that I've seen. There's so much to like about this one, especially the shadowy design of the Grays, who you never really see in full light. Some people were annoyed by the lack of payoff, but I think it's brilliant. You should never see the face of the Devil, otherwise he might not be as scary as you think.
Meet the Barrett family, a nice suburban family of four whose youngest son Sam (Rockett) has recurring visits from a being he calls the Sandman. When these visits escalate from mild pranks to full-blown panic attacks, Lacy (Russell) learns that the horrific shit her family is experiencing may be the result of a close encounter. She and her husband Daniel (Hamilton) go and visit a so-called expert (Simmons), who tells them that there is nothing they can do, and the Grays are coming for them. It's a terrifyingly realistic depiction of an alien abduction, and the idea that it can happen to anyone is very disturbing. I can't believe Dark Skies isn't a far more respected horror film. Its atmosphere is unsettling from the very beginning, the performances are fantastic, and the ending is so creepy and open-ended. There's something about alien horror that gets me. Maybe it's the ever present possibility that we are not alone. Dark Skies doubles down on that fear and delivers an unforgettable experience. |