I understand why people are angry after watching the movie. Some say it's "pointless", but that is not lazy writing which makes it so, on the countrary. I think the idea of this movie is to show how crazy anger can be and how pointless the deaths can be, yet they still happen. I think the ending, which doesn't explain much, actually adds up to this point. Yet still, I felt unsettled by the ending, cause I really wanted some closure.
87 Reviews
MEH.
frances_farmer015 December 2021
Okay, so it's 60/40 for me on this one. The acting is good. The 'gore' and shock factor is great (if that's your thing) All of the technical aspects are okay. That said, after watching it I thought to myself, *WHAT WAS THE POINT?* I don't want to include spoilers, but I found the plot itself very frustrating and unsatisfying. Would I recommend a watch? If there's not a lot else out there... sure. But I wouldn't go out of my way for it.
A lot of potential
bubbsy218 August 2021
This film is one of those that is frustrating because it is so close to being great but it just can't get there. The majority of the performances are excellent, the cinematography is beautiful, the concept is intriguing, the biggest let down is the plot.
Whilst I have no issue with a slow burn plot, the issue I have with this film is the repetitive scenes that take place and cause the progression of the story to be unnecessarily slow. Basically there are 5 different instances in the film were a character attempts to escape from the two captors. Granted some of these scenes are shorter than others but as you can imagine, the failed escapes get rather dull fairly quickly.
I would have rather had scenes of plot progression, better dialogue scenes or more flashbacks examining the core point of the film. I think if less screen time had been spent on people running through forests or down dark roads I would have been more invested. Instead it was just frustrating. After the second attempt it became pretty clear the main character was not going to manage to get away, as then the story would not be resolved, and all the following escape scenes became redundant and therefore had no emotional impact.
Credit where it is due, the film wasn't bad and there were elements that were excellent. I just wish there had been more of those and less chase scenes.
Whilst I have no issue with a slow burn plot, the issue I have with this film is the repetitive scenes that take place and cause the progression of the story to be unnecessarily slow. Basically there are 5 different instances in the film were a character attempts to escape from the two captors. Granted some of these scenes are shorter than others but as you can imagine, the failed escapes get rather dull fairly quickly.
I would have rather had scenes of plot progression, better dialogue scenes or more flashbacks examining the core point of the film. I think if less screen time had been spent on people running through forests or down dark roads I would have been more invested. Instead it was just frustrating. After the second attempt it became pretty clear the main character was not going to manage to get away, as then the story would not be resolved, and all the following escape scenes became redundant and therefore had no emotional impact.
Credit where it is due, the film wasn't bad and there were elements that were excellent. I just wish there had been more of those and less chase scenes.
Intense and Sometimes Shocking
travisthegrimm1 February 2021
I really did enjoy this film. It was brutal, tension filled, and I liked the fact that these many acts of violence weren't just "cause we wanted too" but that there was an actual reasoning behind it.
The directing was brilliant, the sound design was spot on, the performances were top notch... my only complaint is the script. It starts off so strong but loses its way towards the end. I think for a film that answers most of your questions, the ending just leaves you with more that you didn't even know you had. I also think the running time was just a tad bit long.
But these are just my own opinions. I truly think if you love thrillers or slow burn horror (this film definitely gives off horror vibes) than it is definitely worth your time.
The directing was brilliant, the sound design was spot on, the performances were top notch... my only complaint is the script. It starts off so strong but loses its way towards the end. I think for a film that answers most of your questions, the ending just leaves you with more that you didn't even know you had. I also think the running time was just a tad bit long.
But these are just my own opinions. I truly think if you love thrillers or slow burn horror (this film definitely gives off horror vibes) than it is definitely worth your time.
a drama story inside a horror story...that worked out!
bluetzin18 June 2022
Maybe my english isn't that good.. but the dialogues were weird and most of the time didn't make any sence... it was hard to understand what they were talking about even with Greek subtitles.. haha... but if i skip this, the movie was pretty good.. it had some brutal scenes that came up out of the blue, it had a dark back up story and what did happened is food for thought about violence, about revenge and what i finally kept on mind is that doing something bad and do nothing to stop something bad, live on the same place. It's more like drama but with strong elements of horror! It's a movie for 6 stars but i 'd give one more for two reasons, it was a New Zeland production and because action started up quickly without boring intro stuff...
Pointless?? No story?? Were you watching a different film??
rokchik079 December 2021
No, this isn't action packed but that's ok because it's DOES have a story and it DOES have a point! I don't think the people who thought otherwise watched past the first 20 minutes! If you like a gritty and sometimes gruesome thriller, give this a watch. Yes, there were a few plot holes but nothing that really made a difference to the film. Dark and meaningful. I would suggest watching with subtitles on though, because some of the important dialogue is quite mumbled!
Not worth your time
lafebre-8030726 September 2021
This starts out as a Funny Games style horror thriller but soon gets bogged down in rather preposterous plot machinations. The lead bad guy is quite good but that doesn't make this film worth watching. It's worldwide gross was $59,000. Says it all.
Bleak and brutal thriller from New Zealand.
ocosis21 November 2021
Easily the darkest and most intense road movie I've seen since Robert Harmon's The Hitcher. Great acting, cinematography, the lot. There isn't much light here, given the circumstance of the story. But it comes highly recommended, as it completely drew me in.
Coming home in the dark
marinaant-3621724 November 2021
I only decided to watch this movie because of Daniel Gillies and I also read some good reviews and it was indeed good it kept me in agony all the way until the end it wasn't boring at all the actors played their roles perfectly, honestly since the beginning it left me in shock I won't spoil, though I wish it had a better ending.
Violent, pointless and stupid story
gustheaffen4 December 2021
Gross violence with a psychopath and a story that is not remotely interesting. If you want to see people viciously killed for 90 minutes this is for you. There really is no surprises or twists either, ends ridiculously.
Smacks
jeroduptown14 October 2021
Peter Collinson's atmosphere for funny games
searchanddestroy-115 February 2022
The scheme of a couple abducted by a group of psychopaths reminds me OPEN SEASON and PENTHOUSE, in a disturbing, nasty, insane atmosphere, where audiences feel dizzy nearly all long the movie. It is not always very clear and fully explained, you have to watch and listen it very closely. Not for all audiences, not for Hollywood crap films fans. Don't watch it with your parents in law around the poultry, this is not entertainment. This is actually a complex psychological study which maybe needs to be seen several times. This is not a gore, horror movie, nor a thriller, perhaps more a bloody and brutal drama. There is also a bit of Michael Haneke's FUNNY GAMES, but just a bit.
Boring and Trash
BOOKSMART125 September 2021
This film should be included in the list of top 20 most boring films of all time. There are no thrills, suspense, or tension. It's one of those movies that takes a brain-dead sitcom scenario to the outer limits of what an audience is willing to tolerate.
Entertaining, bold, shocking and complex - a gem
jtindahouse13 August 2021
I haven't always been the biggest fan of New Zealand films in the past. So I went into 'Coming Home in the Dark' a little guarded. By about the 20 minute mark in the film though I knew I was in for an absolute treat. There is a truly shocking scene early in this film that sets the tone for the entire premise. It tells us that nothing is off limits and nothing goes without saying from here on out. This is a seriously good film.
The best villains are always the ones you can sympathise with. You don't have to side with them or agree with them in any way, you just have to understand where they're coming from. 'Coming Home in the Dark' has two of the more expertly crafted villains I can remember seeing in a film in a long time. At first there's a bit of a 'Funny Games' feel about them, however as the film goes along we realise there is a lot more going on behind the confident facades than we first imagined.
I will not ever be the type to enjoy or praise a film simply because it is made in New Zealand. That didn't factor into my love of this film in the slightest. This film doesn't need that. It is more than strong enough to stand on its own. It is unpredictable, original, bold and layered. Not to mention a very entertaining ride at the same time that will have you on the edge of your seat. Bravo James Ashcroft. This is a gem you have delivered us.
The best villains are always the ones you can sympathise with. You don't have to side with them or agree with them in any way, you just have to understand where they're coming from. 'Coming Home in the Dark' has two of the more expertly crafted villains I can remember seeing in a film in a long time. At first there's a bit of a 'Funny Games' feel about them, however as the film goes along we realise there is a lot more going on behind the confident facades than we first imagined.
I will not ever be the type to enjoy or praise a film simply because it is made in New Zealand. That didn't factor into my love of this film in the slightest. This film doesn't need that. It is more than strong enough to stand on its own. It is unpredictable, original, bold and layered. Not to mention a very entertaining ride at the same time that will have you on the edge of your seat. Bravo James Ashcroft. This is a gem you have delivered us.
A simple story of revenge...
paulbkrpb6 December 2021
I'd class this film dark and gritty with a simple plot that unfolds as the film progresses. Didn't contain gore or horror, or a complicated story, just kept you on hold for the duration. Sure there were some times when you'd say to yourself why did you do that and other times why didn't you, but I'm more than sure rationale is quashed in life or death situations. I had no issue understanding the dialogue, sure Mandrake get a bit slang in parts but only momentarily in the beginning.
Open your mind a little. If you look outside the box you'll sometimes find some gems. The cinematography is splendid I have to say but in a location like New Zealand, how could it not be.
Open your mind a little. If you look outside the box you'll sometimes find some gems. The cinematography is splendid I have to say but in a location like New Zealand, how could it not be.
Validation of violence
jonasatmosfera1 October 2021
Ah....
Another revenge film.
This time the avengers are two (or one, it depends on how you see it) psychopathic thugs, getting revenge for something that happened in their past I guess we do not need this type of film anymore.
It is just violent and stupid and somehow glorifies violence when supposedly it has a purpose.
By the way, IMDB has too many fake reviews, because the film is pretty bad and the whole experience was depressing.
This time the avengers are two (or one, it depends on how you see it) psychopathic thugs, getting revenge for something that happened in their past I guess we do not need this type of film anymore.
It is just violent and stupid and somehow glorifies violence when supposedly it has a purpose.
By the way, IMDB has too many fake reviews, because the film is pretty bad and the whole experience was depressing.
Past coming back
kosmasp29 October 2021
The thing about the past is ... it sometimes does not stay there. And while that may sound cryptic, it may still be much clearer than what you get from the movie when it starts and halfway through it. Or longer depending on how much attention you pay to it.
Having said, there is almost no merrit in certain things and you are left quite between places when it comes to any moral corner stone ... or anything to hold onto. Maybe that was intended that way, but it does not work as well as the filmmakers may have thought if that is the case.
Having said that, the bad guys really are bad ... well sort of one may say, but I'll leave it at that. A change of mind does not really make sense even if you expect it to happen. That aside, there are a lot of gruesome scenes and there will be a lot of violence along the way - no pun intended.
Overall I reckon the way the characters (re)act makes sense. Always considering that it is a stress situation and it is always easier judging from the outside than actually having to go through all the things that happen here ... not easy watch for sure.
Having said, there is almost no merrit in certain things and you are left quite between places when it comes to any moral corner stone ... or anything to hold onto. Maybe that was intended that way, but it does not work as well as the filmmakers may have thought if that is the case.
Having said that, the bad guys really are bad ... well sort of one may say, but I'll leave it at that. A change of mind does not really make sense even if you expect it to happen. That aside, there are a lot of gruesome scenes and there will be a lot of violence along the way - no pun intended.
Overall I reckon the way the characters (re)act makes sense. Always considering that it is a stress situation and it is always easier judging from the outside than actually having to go through all the things that happen here ... not easy watch for sure.
Based on a short story, it should have been an even shorter movie
lkcoleman-0972218 October 2021
Like a decently written book you give a decently presented movie a break at the beginning: o.k., show me something, entertain me, educate me. I'll give you some time. But within the first half hour I was feeling more than a little abused. Mix completely gratuitous violence - I know, I got that the perps were probably abused in the past, but really? - with some of the most boring aspects of old French cinema and you get the idea: People are killed with no explanation, and while you're vainly waiting for one a character lights up, blows smoke while staring at the camera, or someone, or whatever, for way too much time (this tells you that it's serious "cinema", or cine noir, o merde, je ne sais quois). The camera shows the characters' half-lit faces (maybe an attempt at chiaroscuro?), then spends even more time showing various road surfaces in the dark. Finally, you're waiting for some credible explanation that will justify the agony of watching this, only to have one of the antagonists declare, "I hate this place." It would have made more sense if he had said, "I hate this movie."
Should've just stayed as a short film.
Top_Dawg_Critic17 May 2023
Even at a comfortable runtime of only 93 min and somewhat decent pacing, there's a lot of repetitiveness and ridiculous and unnecessary dialog going on to justify the runtime. Even with the great and convincing performances, a very fitting score, and some nice landscapes, the story just drags on and on to the predictable ending, and really doesn't justify sitting through the entire stretched-out narrative. It does have some brutal moments of violence to create tension and suspense, but in between those is just too much filler. The story needed some twists and turns and a break from the continuous monotony of its basic plot. It's well filmed, but too slow and static to recommend.
Absolutely horrible
ricsau29 September 2021
There was nothing to like about this film plain and simple. The characters were terrible, every one of them and there was nothing redeeming about them. From beginning to end there was zero continuity and the plot seemed as if they were pulling it out of their posterior. Save yourselves the time and aggravation as this mess was just ridiculous.
Good slow burn revenge crime thriller.
Horror_Flick_Fanatic12 April 2022
Good slow burn revenge/crime thriller. The acting performances were well done. So is the cinematography. I was a bit surprised how violent the film is. Not dinging the film because of it. I just didn't expect how far it went which kept me engaged. The only thing I didn't like too much was Mandrake's tiresome monologue in the beginning. The ending wasn't as climatic as I would have liked.
Fake reviews everywhere
Mclovin29051430 September 2021
Unfortunately imdb is becoming less and less reliable as a source for how good a movie actually is, more often than not the cast/crew seem to swamp films with overly positive reviews, i give this one a 4, good acting but sometimes pointless scenes, without spoiling it the scenes with the two boys, and the one with the man at the petrol station, both seemed pointless, it was never made clear if these men were actually targeting this family or it was random, the last 10 or so minutes were also weak, another point that didn't make allot of sense, and i dont know if it was just me, but i was struggling to make out allot of the dialogue, all in all, worth a one time watch but definitely nothing special.
What was the point of the whole thing?
ibnul-450241 December 2021
Promising start but then degenerated into nothingness. What was the point of all the murder and mayhem? It was difficult to empathise with Hoaggie. What an empty character. His wife had more spirit in her little finger than he had in his whole body. These guys go on a killing spree because of what happened 30 years ago? I had to skip through the latter half of the movie. Couldn't wait to get to the end of it. Bleak scenery. Bleak performances. Another weird New Zealand movie. A total waste of time in my opinion.
Silly plot that made no sense.
colinsbeenabducted3 December 2021
Horror movie 2.2
portal179025 September 2021
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