Havana Darkness (2018) User Reviews

Not what you think?

[mvike · 5/10 · 25 February 2019]

When you start the film, the first 30 minutes play as basically a mystery/thriller that has some intrigue, although a bit cliche.

However, at about the 35 minute mark, it turns into a totally different movie! The best way I can explain what I mean is like this:

Imagine you were watching a movie that was like The Ninth Gate/ (or any mystery thriller that leans horror) ...and then out of no where, it turns into You're Next or SAW!!

Yes, I know...what a weird, jarring turn that would take right? Well that's this...it started off as what could be a decent thriller mystery...and out of no where, turns into your typical "man hunt" movie...which tells me the first 30 minutes were nothing more than the film trying to be smarter than it really is. It was trying to give depth to a run of the mill "run for your life, because..." movie.

I'll give it credit for TRYING to be more than a shallow man hunt film...that's about it.

Slow pacing and cheap thrills

[KoolCatReviews · 4/10 · 5 April 2020]

This movie takes awhile to get going but it does set up an intresting premise. When the action towards the middle of the film gets going it decent. I love the fact the film was shot in Cuba the first English spoken horror movie to be shot there. We get to see locations not usually seen in movies, the actors aren't great. Carolina Ravassa puts in a good acting performance toward the end of the movie. The tie into hemmingway is dubious and ends up having a more simple plot despite the movie trying to over complicate its own plot. Its essence its a simple story added with alot of unnecessarys.

Stupid

[krisymc · 2/10 · 24 February 2019]

These people just never pay attention regardless of the amount of danger they're in. They make it pretty easy for the killer. I couldn't wait for it to end. Worst horror movie ever 🙄

if the killer is once down, finish him! or die.

[Critic_from_Outaspace · 2/10 · 24 February 2019]

I personally did not like it. terrible acting. lame story. irrational behaviour. among all the men-hunting movies out there this was a disappointing one.

Stinker, don't waste you time.

[psxexperten · 1/10 · 2 May 2019]

Terribly written and so slow it actually made 2 people fall asleep. I get what they were going for but they really missed the mark. It was a pretty annoying movie. Well the concept is horrible, but whomever put this garbage together doesn't know how to make a movie. The writing sucks, the acting sucks, the directing sucks. Do you get the idea that this entire ting sucks? I wanted to dig my eyes out with a rusty fork.

Very short movie for me

[robot0340 · 3/10 · 26 February 2019]

I gave this movie 3 stars for the 3 minutes I spent watching it. Any movie that has to rely on that much intense graphic, gory and gruesome scenes in that short of time can't be worth watching. Nothing left to the imagination here folks!

Get Ready for the 180!

[arfdawg-1 · 5/10 · 26 February 2019]

Odd movie. Firstly I don't think they had permission to film in Cuba. All the external scenes are filmed from a distance and in very short segments, like they were hiding something from government officials. Kinda like that guy who made a feature film in Disney World surreptitiously.

That kind of makes a weird movie even weirder. So I agree with the other reviewer who gave this 5 stars. It starts out as a slow tension building thriller and then literally 40 minutes into it BANG!!!!! it's a different genre!

The dumbest part of this second half is that the group of "hunters" walk absurdly slow -- like slow motion slow -- so the three tourists can pretty much out run them.

Some of the bad reviews here are clearly from people who didn't watch the movie and just wanted to leave a bad review, because they make references to scenes that never happened!!!!

So is it good? Well it's good the way movies like this are good. Movies like Hostel and Turistas. If you like those you'll find something here to like.

Avoid

[sus-43737 · 1/10 · 27 March 2020]

Just wasted an hour and a half of my life watching this biggest load of crap ever

What's wrong with you people?

[dupontjg-278-481855 · 8/10 · 20 October 2020]

Seriously, why the low ratings? Movies are for EN TER TAIN MENT! This movie was great on the horror level!

It's not bad at all. I had fun following these three guys on their journey to sorrow and pain.

[patovalla · 7/10 · 27 March 2019]

It's not bad at all. I had fun following these three guys on their journey to sorrow and pain. And, yes, there is a little bit of SAW and a little bit of HOSTEL but not as gory as either. The actors do a pretty good job and then there is a very cool twist at the end. I think i got my money's worth on this one. And, no, it's no CITIZEN KANE

A crappy cross between The Collector and Saw

[jimbo-53-186511 · 3/10 · 3 August 2020]

Upon learning of a mysterious unfinished manuscript from legendary novelist Ernest Hemingway, 3 friends decide to make a trip to Havana, Cuba. However, their investigations eventually lead them to a derelict building within the city, but their intuitive behaviour results in them being trapped in said derelict house where they become part of a deadly game which they have little chance of winning...

Considering the genre and the rather basic way the film plays out in the second half Havana Darkness has a very odd kind of pretentiousness about it which doesn't really sit well within the genre. More than half of the film is spent on one of the protagonists convincing the others of the sinister goings on at said derelict building and in trying to convince them that Ernest Hemingway was on to something with this house. Aside from the stupid idea that a group of protagonists would choose to venture inside a place with such a chequered history one also wonders why all of this filler was necessary to set the story up? I mean why not just have the group stumble across the house accidentally and decide to investigate - perhaps after hearing strange sounds or such like? Yes it still would have been flawed, but you still would have lost 45 minutes of filler and would have got to the meat of the film much quicker.

Ultimately when it does eventually get going it does become a cross between The Collector and Saw, but sadly the quality of this film is closer to the later Saw films more than anything else. The Collector had some problems, but it was intense and nail-bitingly tense (despite having a thin plot). The early Saw films benefitted from strong plots and imaginative traps making them the granddaddy of this kind of genre. By contrast, Havana Darkness shares none of these qualities; there is no tension - despite the killers having weapons they are totally inept and are the sort of people that would fail in their attempts to rob a 90 year old lady. The traps (all 2 of them I think) were not all that clever and the ending was also rather silly leaving the film open to a sequel.

Havana Darkness has no tension, no intensity, no suspense and a weird kind of pretentiousness in the first half that feels completely unconnected to the second half of the picture. If you want to see this sort of thing done right then watch The Collector/The Collection or any of the Saw films (heck only some of the very late Saw films give Havana Darkness a run for its money in terms of crappiness).

Scary how bad this is.

[antant-13838 · 1/10 · 29 March 2020]

For such a well trodden genre how can you make such a terrible job if it. With terrible directing, script, editing and music. The actors tried hard but sadly there's no saving this. Only got to the end out desperate fascination.

Havana dullness

[TheLittleSongbird · 3/10 · 26 November 2019]

There was no prejudicial bias at all directed towards 'Havana Darkness', or at least it was not intended if it comes over that way, before watching. What usually draws me into seeing a film etc. in the first place are namely good or concepts, talented casts and promising advertising, and sometimes my love (or at least appreciation) for the genre it fits under plays a part. 'Havana Darkness' had three of those four things, the cast being the exception down to unfamiliarity with those involved.

Sadly, 'Havana Darkness' doesn't really deliver on any of its promise, and promise-wise it was hardly one of those dead before arrival sort of films. Have seen far worse films certainly, recently and throughout my whole life as a film buff (especially in recent years). It is not even one of the worst in its genre. Although merits are few, 'Havana Darkness' is not one of those beyond redemption films, or to me that's the case, it takes a lot for me actually to call something unsalvageable.

'Havana Darkness' is surprisingly not too badly made visually. The scenery especially is very pleasing on the eye and has atmosphere. It is well complemented by the anti-thesis-of-amateurish photography and the editing is cohesive at least.

Also thought the acting from the two leads was competent and quite decent in parts, never mind-blowing but at least there was some skill.

On the other hand, the same cannot be said for most of the rest of the cast. The villains are some of the most un-threatning imaginable, more sending the viewers to sleep rather than seeing them biting their nails. The script is in serious lack of momentum and was begging for a tightning up and proof read, too much rambling talk and that is when one can make sense of it. The implausible decision making and sketchy at best character development make the characters impossible to engage with despite the best efforts of the three leads.

What really cripples 'Havana Darkness' is the pace, which is as slow as the most lethargic of molasses with too much padding stretched out endlessly. It did annoy me that the film had a concept that was quite inventive if strange and executed it so ordinarily, dully and ridiculously. Tension, suspense and thrills are all non-existent, while dreariness, stupidity and predictability permeated throughout the film with the subtlety of an axe. The 180 direction that the film has 40 minutes in completely jars.

In conclusion, not completely dreadful but a weak effort. 3/10

Bad acting

[lancewanariu · 1/10 · 10 January 2023]

The plot was so predictable. And confusing at best.

The actors were speaking their lines as if they were eating hot food.

Too many cuddling & kissing by the couple. And in a country like Cuba. Does not really blend well with the setting.

Photography for the street scenes are okay. Not so for the main building scenes. A 10 year old with a smartphone could have done a better job.

Oh and the "hunting" scenes in the building. Pathetic. One could see through to the actors and see no chemistry. Why didn't they grab the knives off the assailants ? Also you don't just leave the person and walk away. You make they are dead.

I was literally shouting at the screen at such poor directing, acting, cinematography and soundtrack.

Worst film I have ever seen

[robbienewlands · 1/10 · 23 August 2021]

Absolute waste of time, wanted to see it having never heard of it before, big mistake. Editing of a high school student, and actors who are stiff as a board. Terrible, I urge you lot not to watch this rubbish.

It fails on all fronts

[straffordbaker · 1/10 · 3 April 2020]

Structurally unsound. Poorly written. Shallow acting. Weak SFX. No suspense. Nonsensical and without any satisfying end.

It's Saw in Cuba

[ArcherAdam · 3/10 · 14 November 2020]

The acting and direction are fairly solid, and it's got an interesting set up that plays well for about the first 2/3, but then it degenerates into one horror trope and cliché after the next. You can telegraph who's on the dead list, and in exactly what order they go because it's been repeated by my estimated count about 7,423 times. The only thing I was left with was the feeling that horror movies really don't have anything left to say.

A very average horror movie but nowhere near as bad as some of the snobby reviews

[Mike_T-Little_Mtn_Sound_Archive · 6/10 · 22 March 2019]

Short and sweet, with no spoilers.

First, yes...this is reminiscent of the Saw movies. But how many original concept horror movies are made any more? Almost everything is borrowed from somewhere.

Second, yes...the first and second parts of the movie are dramatically different, with the initial part being the setup and the following part being the hook. There is nothing wrong with this device, it only makes for a "slow burn," as they say.

Third, for those that call this the worst movie ever made, with terrible acting and no excitement, I can only assume that they did not finish the movie.

I rather enjoyed the entire film. The cinematography is dazzling, as more than half the movie is filmed on location in Havana, and the colors just jump off the screen. I'm certain that since Ivan is Cuban, he wanted to illustrate the beauty and charm of the country. And since he wrote the setup for the purpose of character development and storyline, I took no issue with the slow burn. I actually thought it added to the overall totality of the film.

From a production standpoint, it was a decently done film. What some interpret as bad acting seemed to me like the language barrier of a Latino lead. Several people I've met from other countries speak indentically so it's not a stretch to see this as a common trait among ESL actors either. The cinematography was definitely the high point, as mentioned, but the production, editing, and script were also ok. Nothing prophetic or Oscar worthy, but certainly professional enough to enjoy.

Honestly, it is beyond me why people review films so poorly just because they share similarities with other films. It might take away from "originality points," but at the end of the day, if the production is well done then I don't see an issue with a recycled theme or storyline.

So yes...some of the review comments are indeed true, but don't let that stop you from watching. The production is well done enough that the end result is a very average horror film, shot on professional equipment. Considering the schlock out there, watching an average film is welcomed. Just know that this is not the pinnacle of originality, and you should enjoy it enough to make the one-time watch worth your while. Would I recommend buying it? Not likely, as I don't think it's good enough to watch more than once, but it's certwinly worth renting or watching once through.

Parental content notes:

• a bit of profanity throughout but nothing gratuitous.
• no nudity or sexual situations.
• due to the familiar content, I wouldn't call this a scary movie but there a handful of scenes that might frighten some.
• violence and gore is fairly prominent through the second half of the movie. Nothing overly gory but there are a few gnarly scenes. Quite a bit of blood and a couple quite graphic examples; I wish it had been even more so.

That said, give it a try. Just know what you're expecting when you hit play.

Frustrating and awful

[sands1980 · 1/10 · 4 February 2021]

You just shout at the tv constantly with frustration... that is when the film actually gets going.

Don't bother, go and rub salt in your eyes instead, it's less painful.

Edge of the seat stuff

[mark-1747 · 9/10 · 27 March 2019]

I really loved this one, from the cinematography, to the slick editing, to the genuine scream out loud scares. If you want a horror that looks beautiful but leaves you too scared to turn the lights off, this is it.

Decent slow burner

[mikaboorem-07352 · 7/10 · 26 February 2019]

Havana Darkness is a peculiar little film. I did not expect much and I ended up having some decent time with it.

It's a slow burner with plenty of build up. The first half or so revolves around a lost Hemingway manuscript and three Americans who take a trip to Cuba to investigate its authenticity. Or at least this is the pretext John and Karen use to drag Carlos, a bookworm loner, outside of his apartment and to an exotic location where they can have some romantic time.

The film then sinks into the beautiful Havana environment showcasing everything you'd expect a tourist to see there. There are plenty of ominous signs something ill might be going on but it's only Carlos who sees them and you are never quite sure if it's paranoia creeping up on a lonely, obsessed guy.

Of course it isn't just in his head and when John and Karen start to blame Carlos he's ruining their romantic trip, the film takes a sharp turn into a much darker direction. This second half has the three of them hunted by masked men and fighting for their dear lives. The change of pace and tone from the vivid Havana tourist life to a gory, tense chase in a confined environment with seemingly no way out is quite efficient.

The actors did an okay job. Their characters weren't very deep but you kind of expect this with the genre. There was just enough to keep them believable, at least for me. The plot starts with a mystery based on a famous Hemingway quote and the time he spent in Cuba to shift into a straightforward race for survival - but even then there were a couple twists I didn't see coming because I always thought Carlos is the main guy. The mask design alone was worth watching it for. So creepy.

It's not a groundbreaking film but if you are in the mood for a slow burner grab some popcorn, get a friend over, turn the lights off and give it a shot.

peeps didnt watch this movie- downvotes are fake

[agarza-69868 · 9/10 · 4 November 2021]

I'm going to upgrade my vote. I don't understand all the bad reviews, normally I would give this a six or seven but because no one noticed the good aspects I am upping my vote. Also, this is a slasher movie, don't expect perfection.

The visuals where fantastic, the editing was choppy. The plot was also fantastic and the screenwriting was OK, the acting was weak.

The best was the locations. Who ever did the location scouting gave the real feel for what Havana really looks like.

Well done

[Bali_Loke · 6/10 · 30 March 2020]

Havanah Darkness does what it does and it's scary. I don't think the professional criticisms of this movie are viable for the most part because this movie is fun. It's about relationships when you get down to it. While it is similar to Saw, very, Havanah Darkness uses familiar concepts found in horror to put a new spin on the survival game sub-genre. I say well done.

The Most Dangerous Game Meets Hostel

[timothygartin · 6/10 · 1 August 2019]

I liked this movie. It wasn't a great movie, but it was good. The high points are the acting by the three lead characters and the set design once they are in the murder house. I thought the actors were believable in each of their roles. Carolina Ravassa comes across a little shallow in the second act that is different than the first and third acts, but its ok. I loved the set design and thought it was an entirely believable maze that could have been set up to hunt people.

I did not think this movie was scary and I did not think it was even thrilling. The bad guys seem mostly inept. If they didn't have the advantages of home turf and weapons, I don't think they could kill anyone. Also, this movie is really slow in the first act. I mean it is really slow. I almost gave up on it.