I am a huge fan of the horror genre.I look at other peoples reviews and it seems to me some people expect too much from movies they like realism which is fine but its horror folks it is suppose to be fiction. This movie is a survival horror it uses the typical survival formula but the director and production crew do great job building tension with the soundtrack and some clever camera work. The actors do a decent job in there roles.I watch movies to be entertainment if I want to watch realism I will watch a documentary it is after all a horror movie and a pretty decent one for me.Everyone has opinions that is the great thing about the movie world I just feel people sometimes expect a little too much.
70 Reviews
Better than:
Patient4446 April 2015
Leprechaun: Origins; Deep in the Darkness; Animal; Nostrum!
From the Dark is a good movie if you keep in mind its budget, the fact that had only 3 actors plus a monster and the surroundings. If you put all of it together adding the so typical plot, the not so always great decisions taking throughout the movie and the way it ended, well, I graded it a 6 simply because I still think it did better than most.
I will recommend it for a horror fan, surely enough it is a good add-on to one's collection, I can declare myself overall satisfied with this production, then again, had very low hopes for it, so I just pressed play and let the time passed. I think most of you will say it is around a 4-5, but I for one have seen many horrors, a lot of indies and low budgets so in comparison to what I got to see lately, From The Dark stands taller than the rest.
Don't miss it, if you like horrors, it will bring you a little to the more old period. Monsters in the dark, afraid of light, and our heroes in need of daylight to survive!
Cheers!
From the Dark is a good movie if you keep in mind its budget, the fact that had only 3 actors plus a monster and the surroundings. If you put all of it together adding the so typical plot, the not so always great decisions taking throughout the movie and the way it ended, well, I graded it a 6 simply because I still think it did better than most.
I will recommend it for a horror fan, surely enough it is a good add-on to one's collection, I can declare myself overall satisfied with this production, then again, had very low hopes for it, so I just pressed play and let the time passed. I think most of you will say it is around a 4-5, but I for one have seen many horrors, a lot of indies and low budgets so in comparison to what I got to see lately, From The Dark stands taller than the rest.
Don't miss it, if you like horrors, it will bring you a little to the more old period. Monsters in the dark, afraid of light, and our heroes in need of daylight to survive!
Cheers!
Well made but still awfully dumb
venusboys33 April 2015
This movie looked great and the beginning setup was fairly standard but done well. The initial dialogue between the main characters wasn't cringeworthy... though it's pretty much the only dialogue in the entire movie. So there's that. There is great atmosphere throughout and the monster is creepy in it's vagueness and mystery. More of a phantom than a raving beast. Unfortunately, beyond those elements the story is just silly. The heroine is level-headed and stoic the whole time, she never panics or breaks down... and yet she keeps doing the most inane things and ignoring opportunities to fight back and keep herself alive. I know that's kind of normal for horror films, but this one goes to a new level of dumb as characters do stupid things solely because the plot demands they not figure this stuff out. For one thing, they never seriously looks for a weapon. They're on a farm and there must be all sorts of sharp pointy implements around... but except for one moment, where she stabs the creature in the foot, she goes about completely unarmed. Also, it's quickly made obvious that the creature avoids the light. The house is full of papers and rags and stuff they could set on fire... and they've got a lighter... but not until far into the movie does she ever try making anything like a torch to keep the thing away or use as a weapon... and even that's only done halfway. Once she gets the tractor she could easily have set the entire house on fire... creating a huge amount of light to cover her escape... and yeah, that tractor would have gone fast enough to get away in... but somehow that whole element is dropped as well. There are several times where she's sitting with a decent light source and could just wait for sunrise... but no, she keeps screwing with that obvious plan in favor of things that end up putting her in the darkness and into danger, again. It's just frustrating... aggravating even... especially when everything else about the movie is so well done. Really, it seems like the whole situation was not well thought out at all and it ruins a movie that otherwise could have been a whole lot more fun to watch.
Night Light...
azathothpwiggins28 May 2021
FROM THE DARK is an excellent low-budget creeper from Ireland. After opening with a hideous resurrection and a vicious attack, we are introduced to Sarah and Mark (Niamh Algar and Stephen Cromwell), who are just passing through the vast, mostly uninhabited countryside. Unfortunately, their car gets hopelessly stuck in the mud. The couple end up at a farmhouse where the farmer isn't quite... himself.
This movie builds tension slowly with some sudden jolts along the way. There's also a novel approach to the subject matter, adding to the sense of danger. Recommended for those looking for something a bit fresh in a well-worn sub-genre...
This movie builds tension slowly with some sudden jolts along the way. There's also a novel approach to the subject matter, adding to the sense of danger. Recommended for those looking for something a bit fresh in a well-worn sub-genre...
So a couple are driving in the Irish countryside...heard this one before?
Leofwine_draca18 November 2015
Haven't we seen this film before? FROM THE DARK has almost exactly the same set-up as the overrated IN FEAR, in which a young and bickering couple get lost in the Irish countryside and come up against something or somebody nasty. Thankfully, FROM THE DARK has supernatural elements and is thus interesting because of that, and better than IN FEAR, although it's still not a good film.
The problem with these lo-fi movies is that anybody can make them, they're that cheap. Grab a video camera and go out for a drive in your car - you've got a film. Thus, I think the script and direction have to be really special to make films like this work, and they're not that special here. FROM THE DARK feels like it wants to be a found footage type film, with lots of shaky-cam work all the while, but what it is is dull.
The script is the culprit here, failing to garner interest by keeping the foe in the shadows for 90% of the running time, and muddling the scenes when it is in the foreground. The opening scene, which brought to mind BLOOD ON SATAN'S CLAW, was the best part for me. For most of the time we're stuck with annoying and/or whiny characters that the actors can do nothing with. The last third of the film feels particularly repetitive and uninteresting, a low stakes game where the viewer doesn't really care what happens.
The problem with these lo-fi movies is that anybody can make them, they're that cheap. Grab a video camera and go out for a drive in your car - you've got a film. Thus, I think the script and direction have to be really special to make films like this work, and they're not that special here. FROM THE DARK feels like it wants to be a found footage type film, with lots of shaky-cam work all the while, but what it is is dull.
The script is the culprit here, failing to garner interest by keeping the foe in the shadows for 90% of the running time, and muddling the scenes when it is in the foreground. The opening scene, which brought to mind BLOOD ON SATAN'S CLAW, was the best part for me. For most of the time we're stuck with annoying and/or whiny characters that the actors can do nothing with. The last third of the film feels particularly repetitive and uninteresting, a low stakes game where the viewer doesn't really care what happens.
Characters that don't think.
drm264224 July 2015
Warning: Spoilers
I don't normally write reviews on IMDb, but after watching this movie I felt compelled to just point out the unrealistic decision making of the characters.
Warning Spoilers!
OK the concept and the creature are good. It is a different kind of take on the vampire. It's all wraith like and any source of light not just the sun, hurts it. Cool idea! That's why I give this movie four stars.
It goes to hell from there. First off who's house are they in? It seems likely that whoever owns the house is probably the one who staked the vamp and buried it in the field. I'm thinking this because of all the motion detector lights everywhere and the fact that the house is all lit up inside. It's not likely do be the house of the dude digging in the field because why in the hell would he leave all the lights in his house on as he goes out to work in the field?
It doesn't bother me that the couple comes to the house to help the strange acting man. The house is still the best option for them to get help with their car. It does bother me that once the man attacks them and runs off instead of looking for a phone in the home, or just plain staying there because a man just attacked them and ran off into the dark, they decide to follow him outside and then try to go back to their car! Umm, hello someone just attacked you. Why not look for a phone and call the cops? Also, what is going back to their car going to do? It's still stuck!
Once they've been attacked by the big vamp and are on the second floor with the light (by the way it takes them WAY to long to figure out that the creature is harmed by light)they don't assess the situation, look for more light sources (there were candles in the room next to the hallway they where in), and or arm themselves. I mean how hard is it to break off a table leg to use as a club?
The lack of looking for more light sources is a constant problem in this movie. They find one light source and go, "ok this is all we need" Because the creature won't try and destroy it or anything!
When the main character is in the barn and shuts off the lights, I assume it is to try and trap the vamp like she did with her boyfriend before. The problem is she shuts off the lamp and the STEPS AWAY FROM THE LIGHT SWITCH!!!! This makes no sense at all! Also there were two hanging lamps in this room. Even if the vamp took out the one lamp when he grabbed it she still could have turned on the light! WTF!?
Finally, at the end she makes the torch and has a lantern and decides to go off on foot. In the next scene she has ditched the torch and just is using the lantern. Once again these characters don't seem to get that with a monster that is harmed by light more is better! When you see her leaving the barn the sun is clearly starting to rise. There is light on the horizon, but for some reason takes a really long time to come up. The character also chooses to walk through a dark fissure in the ground instead of staying on the open surface where she would be able to see everything around her. She does have light at this point after all!
This movie had a lot of potential, but when characters do stuff that doesn't make sense over and over again it makes it tough for anyone to like it! In the end these character's actions were driven by the demands of the plot and not how a person would react to the situation.
Warning Spoilers!
OK the concept and the creature are good. It is a different kind of take on the vampire. It's all wraith like and any source of light not just the sun, hurts it. Cool idea! That's why I give this movie four stars.
It goes to hell from there. First off who's house are they in? It seems likely that whoever owns the house is probably the one who staked the vamp and buried it in the field. I'm thinking this because of all the motion detector lights everywhere and the fact that the house is all lit up inside. It's not likely do be the house of the dude digging in the field because why in the hell would he leave all the lights in his house on as he goes out to work in the field?
It doesn't bother me that the couple comes to the house to help the strange acting man. The house is still the best option for them to get help with their car. It does bother me that once the man attacks them and runs off instead of looking for a phone in the home, or just plain staying there because a man just attacked them and ran off into the dark, they decide to follow him outside and then try to go back to their car! Umm, hello someone just attacked you. Why not look for a phone and call the cops? Also, what is going back to their car going to do? It's still stuck!
Once they've been attacked by the big vamp and are on the second floor with the light (by the way it takes them WAY to long to figure out that the creature is harmed by light)they don't assess the situation, look for more light sources (there were candles in the room next to the hallway they where in), and or arm themselves. I mean how hard is it to break off a table leg to use as a club?
The lack of looking for more light sources is a constant problem in this movie. They find one light source and go, "ok this is all we need" Because the creature won't try and destroy it or anything!
When the main character is in the barn and shuts off the lights, I assume it is to try and trap the vamp like she did with her boyfriend before. The problem is she shuts off the lamp and the STEPS AWAY FROM THE LIGHT SWITCH!!!! This makes no sense at all! Also there were two hanging lamps in this room. Even if the vamp took out the one lamp when he grabbed it she still could have turned on the light! WTF!?
Finally, at the end she makes the torch and has a lantern and decides to go off on foot. In the next scene she has ditched the torch and just is using the lantern. Once again these characters don't seem to get that with a monster that is harmed by light more is better! When you see her leaving the barn the sun is clearly starting to rise. There is light on the horizon, but for some reason takes a really long time to come up. The character also chooses to walk through a dark fissure in the ground instead of staying on the open surface where she would be able to see everything around her. She does have light at this point after all!
This movie had a lot of potential, but when characters do stuff that doesn't make sense over and over again it makes it tough for anyone to like it! In the end these character's actions were driven by the demands of the plot and not how a person would react to the situation.
It Manages To Hit Pretty Much Every Cliche In The Book
sddavis6312 October 2018
Within the opening 20 minutes or so, "From The Dark" already manages to hit basically every cliche that the horror genre has to offer. A farmer makes a gruesome discovery and then we shift back 20 hours in time to learn what led up to his discovery. Check. A young couple are on a road trip. Check. They get lost, but the boyfriend (who's driving) won't admit that he's lost and refuses every effort of his girlfriend (and the GPS) to get him back on track. Check. The car breaks down in the middle of nowhere. Check. The sunlight is fading. Check. They discover an abandoned farmhouse. Check. There's a full moon. Check. And, of course, there's some sort of mysterious creature hidden in the darkness that's out to get them. Check. Cliches galore! Cliches abound!
The creature was somewhat mysterious. Point for that. What was it? Where did it come from? Early in the movie it has a ghostly kind of appearance, but it clearly takes physical form and its outline in the light reminded me a bit of the vampire in "Nosferatu." Does it possess people? Or is this some sort of infection that turns people into - well - the creature? That was never really explained. What we did learn was that the creature couldn't be around light. That's a little different from the norm. Usually you hide in the darkness to be safe. The young couple in this had to hide in the light to be safe. The atmosphere and use of the abandoned farmhouse set was done reasonably well. When all is said and done - even if you can overlook to overuse of cliche situations - this just fails as a horror movie. It's not particularly original, nor is it particularly frightening. A little bit mysterious perhaps, but that's about it. It has a very limited cast - essentially just the actors portraying the young couple - Stephen Cromwell and Niamh Algar. She was better than he was, but there was really no discernible chemistry between them and their relationship didn't come across as authentic to me. (3/10)
The creature was somewhat mysterious. Point for that. What was it? Where did it come from? Early in the movie it has a ghostly kind of appearance, but it clearly takes physical form and its outline in the light reminded me a bit of the vampire in "Nosferatu." Does it possess people? Or is this some sort of infection that turns people into - well - the creature? That was never really explained. What we did learn was that the creature couldn't be around light. That's a little different from the norm. Usually you hide in the darkness to be safe. The young couple in this had to hide in the light to be safe. The atmosphere and use of the abandoned farmhouse set was done reasonably well. When all is said and done - even if you can overlook to overuse of cliche situations - this just fails as a horror movie. It's not particularly original, nor is it particularly frightening. A little bit mysterious perhaps, but that's about it. It has a very limited cast - essentially just the actors portraying the young couple - Stephen Cromwell and Niamh Algar. She was better than he was, but there was really no discernible chemistry between them and their relationship didn't come across as authentic to me. (3/10)
In the Dark
Scarecrow-8817 June 2015
Warning: Spoilers
A couple is driving through the country when they get lost as their phone's GPS is "constantly recalculating". The wrong turn leads to the car getting stuck in the mud. At the beginning of the film before we meet the couple, a farmer is attacked by a vampire who had been buried in the earth with a stake in its heart as he was digging a hole. Pulling the stake out because his shovel had struck it, the farmer unknowingly releases the vampire from its "sleep". The vampire then does what is expected of it
it bites the farmer. The couple soon encounters the farmer, then the vampire.
"From the Dark" doesn't reinvent the wheel here, as the simplistic plot doesn't task the viewer. Instead this is about creeping you out and developing a dread over time. It keeps things small-scale in terms of storytelling but the superb photography and moody lensing of the location (particularly during the nighttime) itself really are what I think this film will bring in terms of appeal to a horror audience. The Irish countryside in the film is scary in the film because even though it is so rural, spacious, and dreary, it is yet on the outskirts of civilization, off the beaten path, and rather isolated. Turning onto a road that places him and/or her out of touch with any nearby city where technology is important, and a car stuck in the mud, the couple is then placed in a difficult situation regarding finding help. Help in the hopes that they can get off the wrong road and on the right one. Instead, the potential help is wounded by a vampire which will eventually turn him into a feral creature of the night.
The camera ingeniously uses a method that keeps the vampire elusive from a total detail for us. It is developed as a type of specter, a figure that is very dangerous but not distinct or elaborate for us to see in complete form. The sound design is booming when need-be and vivid to depict the snarl and movements of the creature. Its ferocity is emphasized as are its actions when after the couple. The lighting is dutifully stunning to capture the surroundings and place. This a very competent and efficient little horror show.
What might be held against it is the minute plotting. This wasn't developed to necessarily confront you with something that has you dwelling on the details of its plot. "From the Dark" is more about getting a reaction, a jolt, a mounting gulp in your throat, and to envelope you with its visual presentation. I think it succeeds as a bit of chiller theater, a film that keeps things simple and lean. It is damned good looking, quite attractive aesthetically. I'd like to see this director offer the horror genre future projects. He has some real talent. Perhaps Conor McMahon will give us something in the future that is cerebral to go along with his visual skills behind the camera.
"From the Dark" doesn't reinvent the wheel here, as the simplistic plot doesn't task the viewer. Instead this is about creeping you out and developing a dread over time. It keeps things small-scale in terms of storytelling but the superb photography and moody lensing of the location (particularly during the nighttime) itself really are what I think this film will bring in terms of appeal to a horror audience. The Irish countryside in the film is scary in the film because even though it is so rural, spacious, and dreary, it is yet on the outskirts of civilization, off the beaten path, and rather isolated. Turning onto a road that places him and/or her out of touch with any nearby city where technology is important, and a car stuck in the mud, the couple is then placed in a difficult situation regarding finding help. Help in the hopes that they can get off the wrong road and on the right one. Instead, the potential help is wounded by a vampire which will eventually turn him into a feral creature of the night.
The camera ingeniously uses a method that keeps the vampire elusive from a total detail for us. It is developed as a type of specter, a figure that is very dangerous but not distinct or elaborate for us to see in complete form. The sound design is booming when need-be and vivid to depict the snarl and movements of the creature. Its ferocity is emphasized as are its actions when after the couple. The lighting is dutifully stunning to capture the surroundings and place. This a very competent and efficient little horror show.
What might be held against it is the minute plotting. This wasn't developed to necessarily confront you with something that has you dwelling on the details of its plot. "From the Dark" is more about getting a reaction, a jolt, a mounting gulp in your throat, and to envelope you with its visual presentation. I think it succeeds as a bit of chiller theater, a film that keeps things simple and lean. It is damned good looking, quite attractive aesthetically. I'd like to see this director offer the horror genre future projects. He has some real talent. Perhaps Conor McMahon will give us something in the future that is cerebral to go along with his visual skills behind the camera.
Pointless, bad photo, bad everything
Catharina_Sweden25 April 2015
Warning: Spoilers
Apart from a very few glimpses of beautiful Irish nature scenery - which is the reason I gave this movie two stars instead of one - it was completely worthless.
First of all it was difficult to even SEE anything, most of the time, because of the dark pictures, the short, quick scenes, and the shaking camera. I can understand why the picture quality must be bad and why the camera must be shaking, if it is supposed to be a "Blair Witch" type of movie, with a hand-held amateur camera being part of the idea. But that was not the case here. So WHY the bad photo..?
And then: there was no real story, no mystery to be solved, no explanation, no twist in the end. Just two people and a creature of an unidentified kind, chasing each other around in the darkness, a lot of grunting noises, sounds of blows, things bumping etc.. This would have been a bad movie even if it had been only a student project of some kind!
First of all it was difficult to even SEE anything, most of the time, because of the dark pictures, the short, quick scenes, and the shaking camera. I can understand why the picture quality must be bad and why the camera must be shaking, if it is supposed to be a "Blair Witch" type of movie, with a hand-held amateur camera being part of the idea. But that was not the case here. So WHY the bad photo..?
And then: there was no real story, no mystery to be solved, no explanation, no twist in the end. Just two people and a creature of an unidentified kind, chasing each other around in the darkness, a lot of grunting noises, sounds of blows, things bumping etc.. This would have been a bad movie even if it had been only a student project of some kind!
Some cliches and plot holes, but enjoyable
mangoamante13 August 2020
I'm not certain why the bad reviews. Yes, there are cliches, yes there are plot holes, yes there are some questionable choices made, but they are not Entirely stupid as in so many horror movies. I quite enjoyed it. And some of the cinematography was quite nice as well.
The Reviews on IMDb are More Annoying than the Movie itself!
politehere30 April 2015
Seriously! I can't believe nobody on IMDb had the courage to call a spade a spade. Giving this movie anything beyond one star is a heinous crime, because it encourages people (read potential victims) to waste their time and money on this. This is not even worth downloading for free! It's that bad!
So, what have we got here a lame couple with no chemistry get stuck in the middle of nowhere (as usual their car breaks down). No signal and no help and they come across a lame monster that is afraid of light and they've got to hide in the attic! This sums up the whole movie perfectly! Are you kidding me? There is no story, no script, no scare factor, no emotion, nothing! I would describe this as Jeepers Creepers meets Vampire Diaries meets boredom! Any school kid could hire a bunch of adults, film them on a handy cam and call it a movie!
If you don't believe me and you're going to waste your money on this anyway, please by all means do it! Just remember I was the only one who warned you on IMDb!
So, what have we got here a lame couple with no chemistry get stuck in the middle of nowhere (as usual their car breaks down). No signal and no help and they come across a lame monster that is afraid of light and they've got to hide in the attic! This sums up the whole movie perfectly! Are you kidding me? There is no story, no script, no scare factor, no emotion, nothing! I would describe this as Jeepers Creepers meets Vampire Diaries meets boredom! Any school kid could hire a bunch of adults, film them on a handy cam and call it a movie!
If you don't believe me and you're going to waste your money on this anyway, please by all means do it! Just remember I was the only one who warned you on IMDb!
For late night thrills, I enjoyed it.
Jonny-ironica6 April 2015
From the Dark was a pretty good little thrill-ride, even if it's not the most flawless or intelligent film.
Basic plot: After their car gets stuck in the mud, a traveling couple have a run in with a creature that cannot be in a source of light. As the creature slowly diminishes their sources of light, they fight to stay alive and evade it.
Without spoiling too much, I will say that this film is basic survival horror without much story to bog it down as anything other than a simple little horror flick for mindless entertainment. The atmosphere is bold and the direction can be pretty creepy, even if the bold and interesting camera work can sometimes make it feel like too much. Still, major props for building a movie where you spend so much time paying attention to the background for the thrill of seeing something that isn't obviously there.
I do see many complaints from other viewers about the fact that there were a handful of light sources that were overlooked by the main character, but I must say, when thrown into every situation, do you often notice every detail or think clear enough to make the best moves possible? Apparently if characters in horror films aren't the brightest and sometimes make poor decisions, then it is unbelievable and a bad film. Heaven forbid anyone is flawed, ya know?
As far as finding light sources and just staying in them til sunlight, I do believe those people weren't paying attention. The creature was not entirely stupid or slow. Trying to remain in a light source without moving only led it to find ways around it and cut off the light. Even setting an entire house on fire wouldn't have been the safest mood: fires get out of control and I'm sure no one wants to burn to death.
Those things aside, horror films like this are pretty much built around the trope of wanting you to scream "NO! NO! DON'T DO THAT! DON'T GO IN THERE! IT'S RIGHT BEHIND YOU, STUPID!" which I think adds to the thrill.
So all in all, no, the movie isn't genius and it's definitely not a 10. But for what it is, it's a successful little thriller chiller., sure to appease people looking for something simple and creepy. Fairly solid, but not groundbreaking.
Basic plot: After their car gets stuck in the mud, a traveling couple have a run in with a creature that cannot be in a source of light. As the creature slowly diminishes their sources of light, they fight to stay alive and evade it.
Without spoiling too much, I will say that this film is basic survival horror without much story to bog it down as anything other than a simple little horror flick for mindless entertainment. The atmosphere is bold and the direction can be pretty creepy, even if the bold and interesting camera work can sometimes make it feel like too much. Still, major props for building a movie where you spend so much time paying attention to the background for the thrill of seeing something that isn't obviously there.
I do see many complaints from other viewers about the fact that there were a handful of light sources that were overlooked by the main character, but I must say, when thrown into every situation, do you often notice every detail or think clear enough to make the best moves possible? Apparently if characters in horror films aren't the brightest and sometimes make poor decisions, then it is unbelievable and a bad film. Heaven forbid anyone is flawed, ya know?
As far as finding light sources and just staying in them til sunlight, I do believe those people weren't paying attention. The creature was not entirely stupid or slow. Trying to remain in a light source without moving only led it to find ways around it and cut off the light. Even setting an entire house on fire wouldn't have been the safest mood: fires get out of control and I'm sure no one wants to burn to death.
Those things aside, horror films like this are pretty much built around the trope of wanting you to scream "NO! NO! DON'T DO THAT! DON'T GO IN THERE! IT'S RIGHT BEHIND YOU, STUPID!" which I think adds to the thrill.
So all in all, no, the movie isn't genius and it's definitely not a 10. But for what it is, it's a successful little thriller chiller., sure to appease people looking for something simple and creepy. Fairly solid, but not groundbreaking.
Dark and brooding
xmasdaybaby19665 October 2021
I came across Niamh Algar a few weeks ago when I saw her in The Virtues so decided to check out her back catalogue.
This is the tenth film)series I have seen her in and one if my favourites with her being more feminine and vulnerable here but enjoyed her ballsy roles in Pure, Deceit and The Bisexual.
There is not much in the way of script here but the film with its small cast is much better than Niamh's later horror efforts in Without Name and Censor.
The cameraman seems to be besotted with her rear, taking shots of her from behind seemingly at every opportunity.
I know the film is set at night but it is very dark and difficult to see what is happening at times.
I am not a big horror fan but there were a few occasions that I did feel squeamish here so the director did his job well.
A great low budget film which has taken Niamh onto greater things but she does seem to have gone of the rails a bit with her performances in Wrath Of Man and Raised By Wolves but I am sure they will prove to be great vehicles for her future.
I know many have given this a low mark but I did really like it and would watch it again.
I am off for a bit of comedy now to see Niamh in The Last Right. A little less tense me thinks.
This is the tenth film)series I have seen her in and one if my favourites with her being more feminine and vulnerable here but enjoyed her ballsy roles in Pure, Deceit and The Bisexual.
There is not much in the way of script here but the film with its small cast is much better than Niamh's later horror efforts in Without Name and Censor.
The cameraman seems to be besotted with her rear, taking shots of her from behind seemingly at every opportunity.
I know the film is set at night but it is very dark and difficult to see what is happening at times.
I am not a big horror fan but there were a few occasions that I did feel squeamish here so the director did his job well.
A great low budget film which has taken Niamh onto greater things but she does seem to have gone of the rails a bit with her performances in Wrath Of Man and Raised By Wolves but I am sure they will prove to be great vehicles for her future.
I know many have given this a low mark but I did really like it and would watch it again.
I am off for a bit of comedy now to see Niamh in The Last Right. A little less tense me thinks.
Dumb and boring
howard-lorin24 April 2015
Warning: Spoilers
I love horror films good and bad but this movie was clearly a waste of 2 hours I will never get back. It had potential, but the star kept doing dumb things, if a creature is afraid of the light why do you keep turning them off or going outside where there is no light, even when she is safe she searches for ways to be in danger. Even when her boyfriend and she was safe in the light she wanted to leave. Even when she was in the barn with light after cutting off her finger she wanted to turn the lights off and do battle with this creature who had already turned her boyfriend into one whom she killed with the light in the barn,just stay in the barn with all the bright lights until the lights go out and you are forced to leave or until sunrise. It was just dumb.
Not bad but certainly not good...
ricpantale119 July 2015
Feels like a found footage cheapo, but it's not....
Low budget is the key word here.....
The type of Horror movie you could fall asleep to, if you turned down the sound...
Not scary, just a waste of time..
Quick jumps, darkness, unfortunately doesn't make a scary movie... 2 annoying characters argue until their car gets stuck in the mud... The guy leaves her alone in the dark to find help....(Of course) When he comes back He knows, the house is weird, and a farmer is acting very strange, but he opts to take his girl there...... The rest is all cat and mouse with a Vampire.......
Low budget is the key word here.....
The type of Horror movie you could fall asleep to, if you turned down the sound...
Not scary, just a waste of time..
Quick jumps, darkness, unfortunately doesn't make a scary movie... 2 annoying characters argue until their car gets stuck in the mud... The guy leaves her alone in the dark to find help....(Of course) When he comes back He knows, the house is weird, and a farmer is acting very strange, but he opts to take his girl there...... The rest is all cat and mouse with a Vampire.......
Deeply Frustrating
toymatinee29 July 2015
Well, acted, taut and thoughtful, this Irish-made Nu-Horror piece has the makings of a ground-breaking entry into a tired and cynical field.
The plot is largely told without dialogue which is a technique that should be used a lot more. The story revolves quite simply around a young Irish couple stranded and isolated as they are hunted by something hungry that rose from the peat bogs. Horror and pop-culture fans will recognize the antagonist instantly when seen in profile though in a Q&A, the director said he was only using portions of that trope despite the mimeographed physical resemblance.
Both of the main actors give instinctual and layered performances particularly given the lack of substantive dialogue. This makes perfect sense as when one is running and hiding in fear for one's life, conversation might not be foremost on your mind. Grunts, groans screams and moans are used as often as words to convey their situation though I must admit it would have been more natural for one of them to freak out at the whole illogical and unnatural nature of their predicament. Think Blair Witch Project's many uses of hysterics in the face of an unseen, unknowable foe.
Niamh Alger's turn as the can-do girl fighting for her and her boyfriend's life is a nice break from the standard male protagonist role, though in Horror, beautiful women DO seem to fare better than average in the post-Millennial world, still Algar's Sarah is a convincing and tenacious hero without the need to show us Sigourney Weaver levels of unstopability.
Gore and cheap starts are not an issue here, though one of the characters does make a decision to hurt themselves for reasons which will be apparent once seen and while the idea is sound and shows the character to be quick-witted and tough, the special fx produced a pay off that was slightly Fangoria c.1975.
The antagonist IS suitably mysterious and vague, avoiding the pitfall of the horror exposed to the light in all its tangible goriness and thus reduced to just another Saturday Matinée beastie.
The movie does suffer from pacing problems as that much time without dialogue SHOULD give you some motion to the story rather than extended breaks of the characters catching their breath or tending to cuts, leaves one feeling the the director's choice to allow the scenes to breathe organically is less patience and more self-indulgent.
Despite this, the film's great disappointment lies in its use of the camera. This is not like the aforementioned Blair Witch, wherein one gets Cops-style shaky cam on-the-run. Rather it seems to be quite infatuated by its own cleverness in creating claustrophobia even when outdoors or in large spaces, the camera is placed so close to the characters as to prevent you from seeing both sides of their face in some cases. The devotion to this sense of confusion and displacement carries through to wide-angle scenes where in many cases objects are left to intervene between viewer and subject. While the goal is clearly to leave the viewer unbalanced, the result is simply to leave one blinking and confused. Intended to be a mood-setter, the final product is instead the antithesis of film; it makes what you've seen LESS understandable and completely unrelatable. Add in the constant darkness from the title and your final product is more film strip than cinema. At no point was this author ever able to place himself into the scene and become a subject of the director's world, instead remaining in constant analysis mode which is just not that enjoyable and ultimately undoes all of the director's technique.
Watching this movie is akin to buying a car with a bad transmission. All those wonderful parts that do work are completely over-matched by the nagging and constant problem that rides shotgun on every trip.
The plot is largely told without dialogue which is a technique that should be used a lot more. The story revolves quite simply around a young Irish couple stranded and isolated as they are hunted by something hungry that rose from the peat bogs. Horror and pop-culture fans will recognize the antagonist instantly when seen in profile though in a Q&A, the director said he was only using portions of that trope despite the mimeographed physical resemblance.
Both of the main actors give instinctual and layered performances particularly given the lack of substantive dialogue. This makes perfect sense as when one is running and hiding in fear for one's life, conversation might not be foremost on your mind. Grunts, groans screams and moans are used as often as words to convey their situation though I must admit it would have been more natural for one of them to freak out at the whole illogical and unnatural nature of their predicament. Think Blair Witch Project's many uses of hysterics in the face of an unseen, unknowable foe.
Niamh Alger's turn as the can-do girl fighting for her and her boyfriend's life is a nice break from the standard male protagonist role, though in Horror, beautiful women DO seem to fare better than average in the post-Millennial world, still Algar's Sarah is a convincing and tenacious hero without the need to show us Sigourney Weaver levels of unstopability.
Gore and cheap starts are not an issue here, though one of the characters does make a decision to hurt themselves for reasons which will be apparent once seen and while the idea is sound and shows the character to be quick-witted and tough, the special fx produced a pay off that was slightly Fangoria c.1975.
The antagonist IS suitably mysterious and vague, avoiding the pitfall of the horror exposed to the light in all its tangible goriness and thus reduced to just another Saturday Matinée beastie.
The movie does suffer from pacing problems as that much time without dialogue SHOULD give you some motion to the story rather than extended breaks of the characters catching their breath or tending to cuts, leaves one feeling the the director's choice to allow the scenes to breathe organically is less patience and more self-indulgent.
Despite this, the film's great disappointment lies in its use of the camera. This is not like the aforementioned Blair Witch, wherein one gets Cops-style shaky cam on-the-run. Rather it seems to be quite infatuated by its own cleverness in creating claustrophobia even when outdoors or in large spaces, the camera is placed so close to the characters as to prevent you from seeing both sides of their face in some cases. The devotion to this sense of confusion and displacement carries through to wide-angle scenes where in many cases objects are left to intervene between viewer and subject. While the goal is clearly to leave the viewer unbalanced, the result is simply to leave one blinking and confused. Intended to be a mood-setter, the final product is instead the antithesis of film; it makes what you've seen LESS understandable and completely unrelatable. Add in the constant darkness from the title and your final product is more film strip than cinema. At no point was this author ever able to place himself into the scene and become a subject of the director's world, instead remaining in constant analysis mode which is just not that enjoyable and ultimately undoes all of the director's technique.
Watching this movie is akin to buying a car with a bad transmission. All those wonderful parts that do work are completely over-matched by the nagging and constant problem that rides shotgun on every trip.
This is a non-story
view_and_review15 February 2016
Like they say in journalism: this is a non-story. There was nothing here; nothing original, nothing special, nothing scary, nothing worth watching.
When Sarah (Niamh Algar) and Mark (Stephen Cromwell) escape to the Irish countryside for some alone time they find themselves stuck on an isolated property hiding from some creature. The movie makers tried to drum up some fear and suspense but it fell flat. How can I even be expected to fear a creature that spends most of its time unnecessarily stalking its victim? I know that was done for added fright, but it only made the creature more baffling as it could only hunt during the night so time was precious.
This creature timidly slinked around in order to give us a 90 minute movie as the heroine fought it off with flashlights, cell phone light and matches. There were definitely several points in the movie when I wondered what's the plan. Not just the plan of the protagonist but also the plan of the creature. Both of them seemed aimless. What I watched was a choreographed hunt where they both strategically harmed each other a bit until one of them delivered the kill shot. Like I said, there's nothing to see here folks.
When Sarah (Niamh Algar) and Mark (Stephen Cromwell) escape to the Irish countryside for some alone time they find themselves stuck on an isolated property hiding from some creature. The movie makers tried to drum up some fear and suspense but it fell flat. How can I even be expected to fear a creature that spends most of its time unnecessarily stalking its victim? I know that was done for added fright, but it only made the creature more baffling as it could only hunt during the night so time was precious.
This creature timidly slinked around in order to give us a 90 minute movie as the heroine fought it off with flashlights, cell phone light and matches. There were definitely several points in the movie when I wondered what's the plan. Not just the plan of the protagonist but also the plan of the creature. Both of them seemed aimless. What I watched was a choreographed hunt where they both strategically harmed each other a bit until one of them delivered the kill shot. Like I said, there's nothing to see here folks.
Not great, but not bad at all
key-0248720 February 2016
Warning: Spoilers
I'm making an account just to rate this movie. I don't get why this movie has such low ratings. It's really not that bad of a movie, and I think people should give it a chance.
I'm going to spoil some stuff of the movie. Nothing important, but you've been warned.
The story is pretty straightforward and nothing mind blowing. A couple who's road tripping through the country side has problems with their cars and they have to look for help. They end up in the house of some poor bastard who just awakened an old vampire, by removing the wooden stake that it had in its body.
The vampire in this story resembles that of Nosferatu, at least in appearance. We have a bald, ancient looking creature that walks slowly yet has significant strength. Another curious thing, it's afraid of every source of light and not only the sun. I believe mentioning the nature of the creature is important because it ties with the setting and tone of the movie. This is not a classic horror/slasher movie with your big cast of teens who are gonna get laid and get picked up one at a time in stupid ways. This is a slow movie, with only two protagonists and almost no dialogue. The vampire doesn't run fast, or screams, or flies. It's just there, being a constant menace to our characters, looking for a chance to attack. Some people will complain and call it unrealistic but I like how, for once, we have competent characters. Even if their actions and decisions aren't right every time, they adapt and think logically and actually try to survive. A nice change of pace.
Anyway, I could keep going but there's no point. This isn't a perfect movie. It has some flaws, some of the characters might have been TOO stoic and calm in some situations, and it might come as boring to some. But I think it's a good movie, different to most horror flicks, yet still being a "monster movie". Give it a chance, because you might just like it, like I did. Best than most of the garbage you find in the horror genre.
I'm going to spoil some stuff of the movie. Nothing important, but you've been warned.
The story is pretty straightforward and nothing mind blowing. A couple who's road tripping through the country side has problems with their cars and they have to look for help. They end up in the house of some poor bastard who just awakened an old vampire, by removing the wooden stake that it had in its body.
The vampire in this story resembles that of Nosferatu, at least in appearance. We have a bald, ancient looking creature that walks slowly yet has significant strength. Another curious thing, it's afraid of every source of light and not only the sun. I believe mentioning the nature of the creature is important because it ties with the setting and tone of the movie. This is not a classic horror/slasher movie with your big cast of teens who are gonna get laid and get picked up one at a time in stupid ways. This is a slow movie, with only two protagonists and almost no dialogue. The vampire doesn't run fast, or screams, or flies. It's just there, being a constant menace to our characters, looking for a chance to attack. Some people will complain and call it unrealistic but I like how, for once, we have competent characters. Even if their actions and decisions aren't right every time, they adapt and think logically and actually try to survive. A nice change of pace.
Anyway, I could keep going but there's no point. This isn't a perfect movie. It has some flaws, some of the characters might have been TOO stoic and calm in some situations, and it might come as boring to some. But I think it's a good movie, different to most horror flicks, yet still being a "monster movie". Give it a chance, because you might just like it, like I did. Best than most of the garbage you find in the horror genre.
Need to vent * major spoilers*
loco-801642 April 2015
Warning: Spoilers
Well where to start on this pile. OK the acting wasn't too bad until the guy had his leg hurt then lost the will to speak? I was enjoying it until it became too unrealistic for words! OK so you have a creature that can only hurt you if you are in the dark so what do you do stay in the light right? well at least three times the main character had the chance to stay in the light until dawn but doesn't! It gets very annoying and boring when she decides for no reason at all to risk her life for a second time. Oh lets not forget her big plan was to escape on a tractor yes a f*cking tractor that can do maybe 25mph but far less over fields to escape a vampire oooookkkk lol despite all this I did really try to enjoy it because it tried to be different but it just fell down on so many levels by trying to be more than it should. It would of been far more enjoyable her hiding under a lamp all night fending them off and him slowly turning and I'm not joking. As for the other reviewers so far enjoy the paycheck lol So 2 for the acting and 2 for trying to be original only watch if you are seriously bored :)
A Strong, Simple Horror Film From Ireland
gavin69428 April 2015
A couple on a trip through the Irish countryside find themselves hunted by a bog creature who only attacks at night.
Director Conor McMahon has been moving up in the world of horror over the last decade. He was the first recipient of a new funding scheme from the Irish Film Board, and this allowed him to make the successful zombie film "Dead Meat" (2004). He really caught people's attention in 2012 with "Stitches", a horror-comedy with a bigger (yet still small) budget that was picked up by MPI and Dark Sky. With "From the Dark" (2014), he is again working with Dark Sky, and possibly releasing his best film yet...
For "From the Dark", he may have found his muse. Niamh Algar is a Dublin-based actress from Mullingar, County Westmeath, Ireland. In 2014, she graduated from the Programme for Screen Acting at Bow Street (formally known as The Factory), a program led by directors John Carney, Shimmy Marcus, Kirsten Sheridan, Lance Daly and casting director Maureen Hughes. She is not only a great actress, but capable of some impressive physical feats -- she both swims and boxes.
The film has been described as "taut", and that is not a bad summary. The two best things about this are the cinematography and the simplicity. The cinematography covers all the bases, from nice wide landscape shots of the Irish countryside (a special treat for those of us foreigners) to very close, very claustrophobic filming in the dark. The variation in styles really gives the film a broad range.
But then we also have the simplicity. For almost half the film, Algar's character is alone and in the dark. She has no one to bounce lines off of and must present herself with facial expressions. This is an actor's dream and nightmare. Luckily, she pulls it off with flying colors and is now poised for bigger roles. (Hopefully she does not abandon us horror folk, though).
Director Conor McMahon has been moving up in the world of horror over the last decade. He was the first recipient of a new funding scheme from the Irish Film Board, and this allowed him to make the successful zombie film "Dead Meat" (2004). He really caught people's attention in 2012 with "Stitches", a horror-comedy with a bigger (yet still small) budget that was picked up by MPI and Dark Sky. With "From the Dark" (2014), he is again working with Dark Sky, and possibly releasing his best film yet...
For "From the Dark", he may have found his muse. Niamh Algar is a Dublin-based actress from Mullingar, County Westmeath, Ireland. In 2014, she graduated from the Programme for Screen Acting at Bow Street (formally known as The Factory), a program led by directors John Carney, Shimmy Marcus, Kirsten Sheridan, Lance Daly and casting director Maureen Hughes. She is not only a great actress, but capable of some impressive physical feats -- she both swims and boxes.
The film has been described as "taut", and that is not a bad summary. The two best things about this are the cinematography and the simplicity. The cinematography covers all the bases, from nice wide landscape shots of the Irish countryside (a special treat for those of us foreigners) to very close, very claustrophobic filming in the dark. The variation in styles really gives the film a broad range.
But then we also have the simplicity. For almost half the film, Algar's character is alone and in the dark. She has no one to bounce lines off of and must present herself with facial expressions. This is an actor's dream and nightmare. Luckily, she pulls it off with flying colors and is now poised for bigger roles. (Hopefully she does not abandon us horror folk, though).
dull and trivial nonsense
osloj3 December 2015
Warning: Spoilers
Take two annoying and dull Irish folks, put them in a countryside with an inept peat bog creature that can't seem to kill them, and what do you have?
One hour and thirty minutes of nothing. That's right, nothing. Nothing at all.
It seems said bog creature just can't kill the woman, and he doesn't really try and she then cuts herself in some accidents, about five times. She purposely cuts off her finger, doesn't bleed to death, feels no pain, and later impales her foot on a loose stake while in the bogs.
It is entirely dull and trivial nonsense.
One hour and thirty minutes of nothing. That's right, nothing. Nothing at all.
It seems said bog creature just can't kill the woman, and he doesn't really try and she then cuts herself in some accidents, about five times. She purposely cuts off her finger, doesn't bleed to death, feels no pain, and later impales her foot on a loose stake while in the bogs.
It is entirely dull and trivial nonsense.
Enjoyable Irish scare fest
s32761692 April 2015
From the Dark does not adopt a new premise nor does it have a big budget and yet its still a darn good Irish scare fest.
The key characters are played with likable ease by Niamah Algar and Stephen Cromwell. Their natural genuineness in the opening scenes and the amusingly familiar predicament they find themselves in, heightens the sense of dread when things take a terrifying turn for the worse.
The setting is a suitably remote farmhouse miles from anywhere and anyone, where the couple are stalked by a creepy creature inadvertently exhumed by the farmhouses owner. The creature itself never quite comes into focus but what you do see and what is hinted at,actually makes the creature, for me at least, far more frightening.
All of these elements come together to give this film a pervading atmosphere of desperate isolation and an ever building sense of dread, in the form of something unspeakable lurking in the dark.
All in all a solid horror with a subtle and cleverly managed ending. A well deserved eight out of ten from me.
The key characters are played with likable ease by Niamah Algar and Stephen Cromwell. Their natural genuineness in the opening scenes and the amusingly familiar predicament they find themselves in, heightens the sense of dread when things take a terrifying turn for the worse.
The setting is a suitably remote farmhouse miles from anywhere and anyone, where the couple are stalked by a creepy creature inadvertently exhumed by the farmhouses owner. The creature itself never quite comes into focus but what you do see and what is hinted at,actually makes the creature, for me at least, far more frightening.
All of these elements come together to give this film a pervading atmosphere of desperate isolation and an ever building sense of dread, in the form of something unspeakable lurking in the dark.
All in all a solid horror with a subtle and cleverly managed ending. A well deserved eight out of ten from me.
Good standard
begob1 April 2015
Warning: Spoilers
Young couple get lost in the bog and encounter deadly night creature from the ancient past.
Good, pure horror. Simple set up, no fancy backstory, and constant threat from the shadows with lots of setbacks for the heroine. Maybe a couple of questionable things in the final act - three sources of alcohol/kerosene? Jump scares were variable.
What I loved about this was the dialogue between the couple in the car - authentic and amusing, really likable characters. Both parts well played, and later on the actress kept it natural, no exaggeration. One thing with Irish actors, though, is they sometimes rush their lines - I missed a few, but the pace and logic were good enough for me to carry on.
The creature remained mysterious, which was good. Lots of different sources of light in the dark, but I didn't really get the contrast. May be a digital thing. And the smashing of the headlights should have been more gory.
Sound was well judged - in the opening sequence just wind and breath until the attack - and the music kept up the tension without overwhelming.
Recommend.
Good, pure horror. Simple set up, no fancy backstory, and constant threat from the shadows with lots of setbacks for the heroine. Maybe a couple of questionable things in the final act - three sources of alcohol/kerosene? Jump scares were variable.
What I loved about this was the dialogue between the couple in the car - authentic and amusing, really likable characters. Both parts well played, and later on the actress kept it natural, no exaggeration. One thing with Irish actors, though, is they sometimes rush their lines - I missed a few, but the pace and logic were good enough for me to carry on.
The creature remained mysterious, which was good. Lots of different sources of light in the dark, but I didn't really get the contrast. May be a digital thing. And the smashing of the headlights should have been more gory.
Sound was well judged - in the opening sequence just wind and breath until the attack - and the music kept up the tension without overwhelming.
Recommend.
Totally dumb, well done though...
nexus-373 April 2015
Starting point of the movie is very basic. Then there is no explanation of anything.
Then there are two characters who's car got stuck in a middle of nowhere.
...and then there is dark and "scary" things happen.
I'm true horror-fan but this goes way down on my list, maybe one of the worst one. Wouldn't be funny as a comedy I think.
But besides this was total crap in my opinion, well done, 2 actors, semi good directing, not bad acting...
But ends up with nothing. Horribly time to waste some of this kind of movie.
Hopefully actors and director get attention for this one, whoever that was behind the script should think about another job.
3/10 (mostly for the dumbest and most boring horror film I've ever seen)
Then there are two characters who's car got stuck in a middle of nowhere.
...and then there is dark and "scary" things happen.
I'm true horror-fan but this goes way down on my list, maybe one of the worst one. Wouldn't be funny as a comedy I think.
But besides this was total crap in my opinion, well done, 2 actors, semi good directing, not bad acting...
But ends up with nothing. Horribly time to waste some of this kind of movie.
Hopefully actors and director get attention for this one, whoever that was behind the script should think about another job.
3/10 (mostly for the dumbest and most boring horror film I've ever seen)
terrible
chapmanp-599477 February 2022
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