Dark Harbor (1998) User Reviews

An intriguing small-budget film worth experiencing

[LowellFan09 · 7/10 · 1 September 2015]

Before Norman Reedus became a fan-favorite on the popular television series, 'The Walking Dead,' he was a small-time actor gathering a bit of attention through a conjunction of both mainstream and independent films - such notable titles being a small role in the tense thriller, '8MM' with Nicolas Cage, the John Hughes-penned drama, 'Reach the Rock,' and of course an early role opposite Mira Sorvino in the sci- fi thriller, 'Mimic.' But in 1998, he starred opposite Alan Rickman and Polly Walker in the rather strange, tautly-wound, independent, suspense film, 'Dark Harbor,' an eerily eccentric tale of forbidden love with only a select few characters inhibiting the screen throughout its duration.

The movie follows three characters woven into a sort of psychological array of hidden motives and blind attraction. Norman Reedus stars as a drifter who is picked up by a bickering married couple (Rickman and Walker) and finds himself getting stuck with the two on a rather isolated property in the south-eastern part of Maine. Along the way, tension grows and the shaky marriage begins to be questioned further due to the interference of the drifter.

The film features a haunting musical score by relatively unknown composer, David Mansfield, atmospheric locations, and a psychological foray into one of the darkest areas of the human mind. The film may not be one to revisit too often due to its dark nature, but it's certainly worth experiencing. I, for one, really respond to the movie's overall feel, or atmospheric tone, and relish in the director's intent to focus his story against a backdrop of moody and isolated locations for the purpose of extracting of his stars from the rest of the world. The DVD, released by Artisan Series in the U.S. and now out of print, features a commentary track by director Adam Coleman Howard which is essential listening if one enjoys this type of movie. It dives deep into the oddities on screen and assists in understanding the film's coveted structure. Check this one out, especially if you like suspenseful dramas with unconventional themes. The disc can be had for a reasonable price on the secondary market as of this writing and is worth adding to your collection - especially for you Reedus fans clamoring to see him outside his zombie-hunting escapades.

Moody, picturesque little thriller

[NateWatchesCoolMovies · 7/10 · 1 December 2015]

Dark Harbour is a quaint, little seen romantic thriller from the late 90's that sets up an alluring atmosphere in the brief time we get to spend with it, and then ventures slightly into territory that's a bit beyond its initial calculations, providing a super lurid, erotic third act that might not sit well with viewers who patiently followed it along the tracks of logic before it faltered slightly. It's funny though, because the ridiculousness of the twist ending is one of the main aspects that has made the movie stick in my mind since I saw it like eight years ago. The uniquely paired cast makes it worthwhile, as does gorgeous locations and solid cinematography, working hand in hand with neat, rain speckled sound design to bring us a low key thriller that does the trick. Alan Rickman and Polly Walker play a wealthy couple on their way to a remote getaway at a snazzy, forest covered property they own in picturesque Maine. They are about as dysfunctional as couples get; bickering, petty creatures who can't stand to be in each others presence to the point of constant tension. On their way into a secluded, densely forested region they come across an unconscious young man (Norman Reedus) who vaguely suffers amnesia and appears to be distressed, prompting them to take him with them to their abode. From their tension arises to an uncomfortable level as the drifter proves to be both a third wheel and a sinister force of unease to both, culminating in an ambient, rainy forest finale that stands as the best sequence in the film, and a nice bit of work at that. Rickman doesn't usually go for this kind of melodramatic, American stuff and it's surprising in a good way to see him flex his genre muscles. Walker, who wowed me in HBO's Rome, is overlooked and slides into any role with intuition and believability, not to mention her luscious physical presence. Reedus, an actor now known for his endless work on the increasingly dull and shabby The Walking Dead, has countless hidden genre pieces like this in his filmography, and his inherently edgy, enigmatically off kilter aura makes everyone worthwhile. This one especially so, as it's a nicely crafted little dip into a hot and cold mess of a situation that tears the rug from under you in ways you won't see coming.

Remember Polanski? Well, this one is DARK!

[artzau · 5/10 · 12 November 2000]

You're not going to like this film. Why? Well, it's a remake of Roman Polanski's very, very dark Knife in the Water, which he made in Poland. The acting in this film is superb. But, it's not a happy story: it has violence, deceit, duplicity, perfidity and is not one to see on a downer. But, again, Richman is excellent. Indeed, can anyone doubt he is one of our truly great actors?

see it twice...then another time, trust me.

[Wylderaven · 7 June 2002]

The first time I saw this movie I was bored to tears. Having bought it for a buck for my ingrained love of Rickman and Reedus, I wasn't expecting much, and that's what I got...at first. There's a twist ending, which made me cock an eyebrow and proceed to tell my fellow film lover friends the entire plotline. Though I warned them that it wasn't a good movie, they insisted I show them. I took a deep breath and prepared myself to be bored again. Instead I was enthralled, seeing the very subtle actions and expressions that foreshadow the ending, and hearing the dialogue with entirely new meanings. It was BRILLIANT! The pacing is slow, and yes the sound verges on sucking (get a home theatre system and turn it up really loud so you can hear all the good stuff). Once you overlook those faults, and see it the second time, you realize that this truly is one of those film gems that you treasure and bring out on a dark rainy night to show your unsuspecting friends. It's different, and obviously there are few out there who will really appreciate it. But for those of us that do, it's cherished.

The acting is phenomenal, the setting and cinematography are breathtaking, and every word of dialogue has a distinct undertone. I recommend it to everyone - you can hate me for it only AFTER you've seen it a few times - if you still don't like it...then see it again.

Worthwhile for Norman Reedus fans

[virginiarand · 6/10 · 9 March 2021]

I expect I'm part of a decent sized contingent who came to this movie as fans of Norman Reedus, and so I didn't really have a very clear idea of what I was heading into. And honestly, I'm not sure knowing more would have helped this movie not feel very strange. It's definitely worth it if push through to the end, though.

Welcome to surrealism

[artzau · 5/10 · 24 April 2001]

Whadda want? Mickey Mouse? OK. Watch Disney. This remake of Roman Polanski's Nosz na wodye, Knife in the Water is SUPPOSED to be dark, dark, dark. C'mon. What did the whiners expect? More Mary Poppins? Rickman is his usual fantastic self. Polly Walker and Norman Reedus are a great complement in this voyage into the depths of the wasteland. This is an excellent film-- in the sense of the acting, filming and the balance of things. But, it's also ghastly because it delves into the ghastly aspects of the human condition. It's not supposed to be nice, entertaining, fun or up-lifting. It's supposed to be dark, dark, dark. And it is. For my part, I hated it. It bored me, disgusted me and made me confront the same demons that hide out in the darker recess of my own soul and there ain't nothing more painful to meet things you don't like in yourself.

Stay away from the poisonous mushrooms

[Rogue-32 · 7/10 · 11 June 2002]

Dark Harbor is a moody little excursion into murky emotional waters that run extremely deep. It's basically a 3-character piece, featuring a finely-layered performance by the always-great Rickman, with Polly Walker and Norman Reedus (also excellent) forming the other two sides of this strange triangle. A perfect late-night cable film, with a surprise ending to boot.

Weird and Boring

[JBoze313 · 1/10 · 9 September 2001]

I had noticed this movie had been on Cinemax a lot lately, so this morning, I decided to watch it. I had just finished the Infiltrator, which is a great movie, and I thought this looked good as well. From the description the cable had, atleast. This film was awful. It's slow, the pacing is horrible, it feels as tho it lasts 4 hours. There's no real plot to speak of...agh! How can anyone say anything good about this movie. Rickman is good...but he always is...the other two characters work well, but there's no real story to support any of it. After 2 hours, and you sitting there wondering what on earth is going on, where on earth is the plot- it ends with a surprise that frankly just made me sick. Don't bother with this one.

Not for pure entertainment

[Ale_XS · 10/10 · 30 December 2004]

"It's funny your worst nightmare always seems so far away!"

Dark Habour's characters, a married couple (Alan Rickman & Polly Hunter) and a vagabond (Norman Reedus), are slipping into a game full of hidden sexual energy and treason. Now-and-then tantalizing breaks increase the tensions and give much space for interpretations. Good acting and a story which, if not using the brain, will leave you in confusion. You have to watch it twice at least. The very strength lies in its unconventionality and in Alan Rickman, of course. Those who love him will love this movie.

Conclusion: It is not a typical prime time movie but Well Done !

You always have a Banana!

[sol1218 · 6/10 · 10 February 2006]

+There may be Spoilers+ Nothing really new here involving a couple who run into this injured stranger as their driving through a heavy rainstorm in rural Maine.

David & Alexis Weinberg, Alan Rickman & Polly Walker, were on their way to catch a ferry home but are delayed until the next day when they miss the boat. Picking up this young stranger ,Norman Needus, who was thought at first to be dead he ends up also getting on the ferry the next morning and sailing for the Weinbergs' island home.

Hanging out in the woods and the nearby beach the stranger come in contact with the Weinberg's again in a most unusual way. The Weinbergs planing to sail back to the mainland get trapped in a fog bank and go off course and runs aground on nearby Seal Rock. It's there again they to run into the stranger, as if he knew that they would be there. This the stranger get knocked out by David with a log thinking he's trying to rob both him and Alexis.

The stranger, after recovering from his head wound, helps David & Alexis get their boat fixed so they can sail back home. Later cooking up a large and magnificent meal for the couple he's allowed to stay over until the next morning when David is to take him, by boat, back to the mainland. Up until the time when David leaves both the stranger and Alexis alone, and goes to see some friends on the mainland, you have no idea where the movie "Dark Harbor" is taking you.

There's something going on between the three, David Alexis & the stranger,but it's so weird that you feel that at any moment you would find out that it's a dream, or hallucination,like the dream that Alexis had, about David attacking her with an ax, earlier in the movie.

"Dark Harbor" goes in and out of sequence as if it were badly edited with a number of scenes that are never explained? Like what just exactly happened to David when he wakes up with a bloody mouth and who gave it to him? Alexis? the stranger?

There's also David, bloody mouth and all? going off the handle and what seems to be accusing Alexis of driving her father to suicide where she completely loses it, and almost runs him through with a set of kitchen knives. All this while the stranger calmly sit at the table watching the entire scene.

The stranger himself is attacked by what by now seems to be an insane David only to lose him in the woods with Alexis who it turned out David was leaching off, during their seven year marriage, throwing him out of her house and island.

Finding the stranger in the woods, cold and with nowhere to go, Alexis seems to accept him back as David's replacement as "the man" in the house. We then see both she and the stranger munch down some wild mushrooms, that grow on the island, during a pouring rain. Just when you think the film "Dark Harbor" is over your hit with theses two scenes catching you off guard, as your trying to figure just what happened in the film,that explains the reason for the strangers present on the island and in both David's & Alxis' lives.

Very confusing story but the breathtaking and gorgeous photography of the state of Maine make the movie worth sitting through. The surprise ending isn't really that hard to figure out since the stranger showed his true feeling, and colors, to Alexis earlier in the film when he did a skit of a 1962 birthday party for JFK at Madison Square Garden.

It became obvious at the end of the movie that all that happened between David & Alxis involving the stranger was no accident at all but planned well in advance. It was only in the films final moment that you realized who did all the planning.

One of the worst films of all time

[idrisskhaled · 1/10 · 13 May 2001]

This is really bad, the characters were bland, the story was boring, and there is no sex scene. Furthermore, it lacks drama, the conflict is minimal causing it to be extremely slow paced. Nothing happens in this film, you would expect a sex scene, but they just have a kiss. The plot revolves around three characters, a man, his wife, and a stranger that they pick up from the high way. The couple invite the stranger to stay with them, because he is homeless. At this point you would expect the stranger to have sex with the wife right? No they just kiss and thats it. Also, this film contains no action, no comedy, no drama, and not even suspense. Makes you think that maybe the studio did not even read this script!!!!

Different....

[rosefluo · 9/10 · 29 April 2004]

I think this movie is different apart from most films I've seen. It was exciting in a way, and no matter what others say, I say, I was surprised about the final solution. Certainly didn't see it coming!! Although it's sad, it's worth watching.. I can't think of any movie that would be like this! Actors knew what they were doing. If you say this movie sucks, you say probably what most people would say. But, if someone says that this movie is ordinary, I absolutely don't agree. And Norman Reedus should be more noticed.

Maybe I'm freak but I liked this very much. It was kind of mess, but who cares? I'm tired of boring and ordinary movies.

Don't pick up strangers

[vikitoria · 7/10 · 24 January 2004]

This was an interesting study in societal sexuality, as well as the "dark interests" of man.

While I can't say the wife was a strong character - she was the wrong choice for the part, in my opinion - she was a rich kid in search of escaping her drool life. She was a rebel in fact, and never fully matured for her husband, a lawyer (Rickman). It's obvious he married her for her money and to cover his sexual desires, which is taboo. Rickman played his part to a tee, his flirtations with the young man, and very subtle undertones of gayness. The young man was gay to the hilt! When he did Marilyn impersonation that should have told the wife everything. He was perfectly cast as well. He has hustler written all over him.

I was not crazy about the ending, as I knew what was coming. Overall though, the acting from Rickman was great, Reedus was good, Walker was okay but I had misgivings. For a gay themed movie, it was average, but not blatant at least. It's worth viewing if you don't have "Truly Madly Deeply" lying around for a spin.

One of my Favorites...

[Matraiea · 22 August 2003]

Having read some of the previous reviews, I was highly disappointed to see that not everyone enjoyed this film... Right now, let me tell you, if you are not an Alan Rickman fan, you may want to consider skipping this movie.

Being a hard-core Alan Rickman fan, I bought this movie before seeing it. When I watched it, I fell head-over-heels in love. The premise was simple: On their way for a weekend at their private island, a married couple helps an injured man on the side of the road. Dropping him off in the nearest town, they resolve to think nothing more of him. Thus, when he turns up on their private island, they are somewhat surprised. Polly Walker is the only real dud in the film... I'm sorry to say that she's British, to boot. Alan shines in this as he does in everything, and there's just something so loveable about Norman Reedus.

The ending *WILL* come as a shock. Unless you're incredibly perceptive (which, I consider myself to be, and I was shocked), you will not know what's coming at the end. Yes, the plot moves a bit slow. But the pace is necessary to establish the proper relational distance between Alexis and David Weinberg.

I loved it, I think you will too, so just give it a try!

good minor b-movie with a great ending

[jaybob · 6/10 · 24 April 2001]

This film is a minor film, but quite enjoyable & without giving a spoiler it does have an ending that I was hoping for,

Alan Rickman & Polly Walker are a slightly bickering married couple until a young man Norman Reedus enters there lives one weekend on a lonely Island off the coast of Maine. The presence of this young man changes there lives. Thats all there is too this 85 minute film. I was hoping for the ending this film had early on & I was right.

This will make a good co-feature to be seen with another film.

I did enjoy it for what it was.

as always

jay harris

Tired premise equals tiring movie

[diakonia_alpha · 1/10 · 27 April 2000]

It is easy for a movie that tries to be suspenseful to wind up being merely uninteresting. It happens quite often. Not only is Dark Harbor uninteresting, but it is very poorly done. Scene after scene is tacked on to an otherwise overdone premise. A troubled couple picks up a troubled stranger only to find more trouble.

Some movies build tension by building the story. Dark Harbor keeps adding on to its story but never building upon it. I was hoping that like other movies, the suspense would finally explode. It never does. Also, the characters have no continuity from scene to scene. They may act one way in one scene, but then act a completely different way in another scene. At first, you think that they are merely out of character, but by the end you realize that they are not really characters at all. They are just props for the final twist. The final ten minutes try to be shocking. Instead, it's rather lame and uninteresting. The only thing that was shocking to me was that the movie finally ended. At less than ninety minutes the movie still feels way too long.

This isn't one of those low-budget gems. It's more like a counterfeit watch that breaks as soon as you take it home.

Uneven low budget thriller slightly above average due to Ricckman's performance alone

[shensley-31445 · 7/10 · 11 February 2024]

I always have enjoyed Alan Rickman as an actor. Of course Die Hard, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves Galaxy Quest, Harry Potter and Sweeney Todd he has been great in.

I was interested albeit a little hesitant to check this out. After all it's not on any streaming service and I didn't recognize any of the stars other than Rickman.

Upon watching it on a DVD copy I was able to find I will say it's rather odd that it has a very low budget TV movie quality to it which I find odd since Rickman was an A list actor appearing in many Hollywood blockbusters. Was he so desperate for cash after Robin Hood and before Galaxy Quest and Harry Potter to appear in a B movie?

Despite the low budget feel, somewhat slow pace and essentially a three character movie my thoughts initially was that it was only watchably average.

But as the story went on I realized it was slightly better than that and of course the only reason this movie is even worth your time is because of Rickman who with fairly ordinary and mediocre material is far better than the screenplay he has been given.

Some viewers have compared this to Roman Polanski's 1962 Polish film Knife in the Water which I do remember seeing and remember being better and remember the stories being similar but still Rickman's performance and an ending plot twist which I won't spoil made this worth one watch.

Being of course you cannot currently streaming I would say don't make the effort to seek out finding a DVD of it unless you are a die hard Rickman fan because if you aren't I think you will be bored.

However if you absolutely loved Rickman and his other movies I think one viewing alone would be worthwhile. He made much better movies but this shows how good an actor he was making ordinary material better with his extraordinary performance.

Something out of nothing

[=G= · 5/10 · 25 October 2001]

"Dark Harbor" is all about three people including a middle-aged married couple and a young male interloper. A technically and artistically good film with solid performances, "DH" is in desperately need of a story. It meanders from one inconsequential situation to another spiced up with some silly shocks and some Kodak moments and then suddenly ends with a twist which is unsatisfying and hardly worth the wait. Recommended only for the needy channel surfer with nothing better to watch.

Fantastic Pay-Off if You Stick With it

[Laura_Organa_Solo · 8/10 · 30 January 2008]

If the ending hadn't been so fantastically unexpected, I don't think I could rate this movie so well.

This movie has a lot of uncomfortable, distressing, "marriage falling apart" character interaction. That sort of thing is not my kind of drama, so the pace seemed to drag for me.

In addition, the main characters are difficult to relate to and thus care much about -- the husband (Alan Rickman) is rather bitter and cranky and the wife (Polly Walker) is aloof and a little haughty. The acting was just fine (Norman Reedus was very alluring), but the characters themselves were perhaps a little TOO realistically flawed (for me).

The setting was nice and appropriately isolated and a little spooky. The cinematography had something to it that seemed a little old-fashioned to me somehow.

But the last 5-15 minutes of this movie are so ingenious that every uncomfortable scene, awkward conversation, and inexplicable character behavior absolutely worth it. I guessed every typical plot twist except the one that occurred.

The ending definitely makes this movie worth watching. The intrigue and the drama, not quite as much.

.... ermm. What have i just watched?

[naly202 · 6/10 · 15 April 2019]

The trailer advertised it as a thriller, a lot of struggle scenes, nightmares, trying to escape, etc. Then you decide to watch the movie... patiently waiting for something to happen. When something does happen... ah well.... the movie ends and you are left with the question in this review's title. I adore Alan Rickman and LOVE movies with few characters because you have the chance to study them in depth, they develop making you either love or hate them. Here the characters go nowhere. The movie is rather hard to follow because the actors mumble their lines as if they were completely bored or drunk while filming. Maybe they were both, just struggling to finish the damn movie. Although Alan is on screen most of the time, he has the most bored expression you've ever seen. The only character i really felt sorry for was Alex's mother at the end. "Show me your eyes"...

I do not care for it.

[jordondave-28085 · 2/10 · 12 April 2023]

(1998) Dark Harbor THRILLER

Co-written and directed by Adam Coleman Howard with husband and wife of David Weinberg Alan Rickman) and Alexis Chandler Weinberg (Polly Walker) heading to the ferry so that they can get home to their cottage onto one of the islands. But along the way, they would then stumble onto a unknown drifter, (Norman Reedus) who appears to be injured. Instead of getting emergency involved, the drifter then tags along until they reach the ferry docks. He then manages to follow and then track them to their runaway cottage is when mind games are played. Some of the things done is something would not do.

Excellent!

[Jennifer-26 · 9/10 · 3 February 1999]

I saw Dark Harbor at the '98 Seattle Film Festival. Filmed against a autumnal Maine backdrop, this movie boasts an excellent cast and a plot that keeps you guessing throughout. At times eerie, at times funny, I have to say that it stayed with me for days after seeing it. Rickman and Walker are wonderful as the icy marrieds and Reedus is someone you'll be hearing more from, I'm sure. The opening shot of a winding, deserted road in a downpour at dusk (and the score that accompanied it) set the tone so well -- just terrific. Nice, nice work from a new-ish director/screenwriter and his talented crew.

"Knife on the water" Hollywood version.

[rheaton-94697 · 6/10 · 3 September 2023]

I've been wanting to watch this for quite awhile since I really liked "Knife on the water". Dark Harbor is an obvious remake of the classic Polanski film so it's impossible not to make comparisons. The characters are much less interesting primarily because the tension that is created in the small confines of a boat doesn't really translate to an island. Rickman and Reedus put in convincing performances but something just doesn't seem right with the chemistry which may be intentional. The "surprise " ending caught me off guard only because the film was made 25 years ago. That's before such "twists":became almost mandatory for Hollywood films. It's a good film that will hold your interest but doesn't compare with the original.

As cheery as any funeral I have been to

[Alan-40 · 5/10 · 31 December 2003]

A coldly married couple takes a few days off at their island cottage. A third party obtrudes. That's the story, and that is what most people seem to have seen in it. It's a beautiful Maine setting, which seems to make it all the worse.

The biggest mystery in the story is "what the hell did she marry HIM for anyway?" Well, closest I can figure is she was just 20 and really wanted to tick her mother off. It happens.

To understand what is going on, here is something that seems to have escaped the notice of 99% of the reviewers of this movie. The "Young Man" is not a real person. That is why he never has a name. He is a metaphor for the "Dark Harbor" in David Weinberg's head. David hates his wife Alexis and loves only himself. He feels that his 7 year marriage has left his emotional self battered and crumpled on the side of the road. He tries to reject the notion but always returns to the Dark Harbor.

If you want more clarity, check out the dream scene where Alexis brings a blanket downstairs. (hint: who really brought the blanket?) The whole movie is right there.

Great view for psych students and brooding literature undergrads.

!!This commentary contains severe SPOILERS!!

[abartz · 28 July 2003]

Well...what can I say about this one? To be honest, after watching it I was left sitting there dumbly, my mouth half agape, trying to pick out what I had just seen. I don't think I could give a very good review/recommendation for this, but I would like to comment on the film. From here there are severe spoilers, so read on at your own risk.

Symbolism:

Dark Harbor is the brain child of Adam Coleman Howard, a meticulous writer/director with a critical eyes for detail and meaning. Some people feel he puts too much thought into his details. One gentlemen, in a DH review said "...the couch was suppose to have symbolism? I didn't get it..." Personally, I think great attention to details, especially the ones no else would notice, is one of the most important aspects of being an artist. Another is understanding and accepting the fact that most people will not notice these additions. For needless symbolism, I must give Howards props.

Plot:

The film was interesting in its use of an old plot with a new twist. The cheating lover kills the wife/husband so they can be with the person they love. Very used, yet still equally as effective at plucking the strings that make up humankind. The homosexual twist of the plot doesn't really change the meaning, just makes the slap the audience gets at the end even harder--not a bad thing in my opinion.

Sexuality:

Several people have critiqued DH as an attempt to bait "proper" viewers into an intriguing world just to slam them with an attack on modern society's politics and issues. I think these people are just homophobic. Alan Rickman has also been accused of being gay due to this role. All I have to say for that is this: Can you say acting? Try it with me...act-ing. Act-ing. Now together: acting. Very good. I think it's shallow, insecure people who find issues with films that use real life to make a point about real life. I apologize to all the delusional folks out there, but there are gay people in this world.

Nudity:

Hmm... This is one of the reasons I am not sure how I feel about the film. I am not opposed to the use of nudity as symbolism or for shock value, as long as its ultimate intention is to make a point, not just to see someone waving themselves out in the wind. In this particular instance, I can see where the use of the scene would add to the movie. However, I think it would have benefited the entire screen usage if it had been done with a slightly larger bit of reflection. There was a hasty de-robing, followed by a "transitional" swim to shore, and a self-realizing ascension of the stairs. All of this is well put together and effective. I only think it would have been more of a, "That was in depth," than a, "He was naked!" if Howard had allowed Rickman to think to the camera a little more before he started stripping. Obviously symbolizing his internal transition, the scenario left out the crisis, making it spontaneous and unrealistic for an interpretation of his emotional change. What we end up with is nude Rickman jumping off a boat followed up by a generously lengthened back-end sequence: effective and useful if you can get over the "He was naked!" thought quickly enough. This is defiantly a scene better taken in by an audience who already knows it's going to happen.

The Players:

Alan Rickman: Rickman does a wonderful job of melding with the other two actors to create a believable film. There are some small problems with his character, but I think those are more of a directorial issue. Whether he himself added to them by suggesting these direction incidents, I cannot say. There were several points at which he dropped his dull, flat American accent for a moment of his usual speech. These happenings only added to the blandness of all American speakings. Though robbed of his usual vocal power, Rickman proves that there is more to him than voice as his acting maintains its high standard.

Polly Walker: Walker shows her own talent in Dark Harbor as she swings from the critical wife to the wronged lover, and then back, and to several other places along the way. She holds most of the character action together as Rickman and Reedus rarely interact with each other on screen, but through her. The only issue I have with her character is the struggling indifference to the acts of the others. Alexis seems to fall out of character a few times, going from the seemingly assertive business type to a passive observer, most notably in the scenes she shares with the young stranger.

Norman Reedus: I had never seen Reedus act in anything prior to watching to this film. He did well, I think, for the part he was supposed to play. The "sexy mushrooms" scenes were a bit of a stretch, but I think Reedus has found a way to make fungus appealing, even if only because the viewer associates it with rolling drunkenly in fern saplings with a dark stranger--a fantastical thought which had, until present, never entered my mind. There are parts where one must wonder if the part was poorly written for a line or two, or if Reedus just wasn't in the mood to work that day, but these are relatively easy to over-look as the film is swept along to another angle.

Overall:

On the whole, I think Dark Harbor was an interesting film full of visual usage that I can not say was always effective. But, learning from Dave, I find crass generalizations are often better left by the wayside when it comes to something as varied as human nature, a heavily running theme in this movie. DH is best served on a warm plate, so I would suggest checking reviews and venturing a few spoilers, unless you are the type who can watch a long, jerky film and comfortably say, "Let's go back for another try; it may be different if I watch it again."