20131114: Horror Review--Darkroom

Darkroom

1. Fundamentals, reception.
1. American live action feature length film, 2013, rated R, 80 minutes, horror
2. IMDB: 5.0/10.0 from 84 user ratings.
3. Rotten Tomatoes: No entries whatsoever.
4. Netflix: 2.7/5.0 from 18,990 audience ratings.
5. Directed by: Britt Napier.  Screenplay by: Michaelbrent Collings.
6. Starring: Kaylee DeFer as Michelle, Elisabeth Röhm as Rachel, Christian Campbell as Larry, Tobias Segal as Daniel, Britne Oldford as Jean.


2. Setup and Plot
1. Michelle was in an accident.  This damages all her attempts at drug rehabilitation.  To get out of the program, she needs to get Rachel's approval.  She's lost her school aid due to the court orders, and her job prospects are dim.  Rachel gives her an assignment, which is at a huge, for-sale house doing modelling.  Amazing.  Why would anyone give so much help to this loser-with-repellant-attitude?   She's not attractive, she has a bad smoker's rasp, and various wounds on her body.  Model?  Seriously?


2. Rachel tries to get her to own up to her part in the driving accident in a group therapy session.  This is more or less at the heart of the film.  Michelle does not want to accept responsibility.  She was driving, the three people with her were killed, but somehow it was not her fault.


3. So many flashbacks, so many irritations.  This story is short, and should be told linearly.


4. At the photo shoot, she gets a costume for the gig, and directions to the first filming location.  But no one is there.


5. By this time, I'm rooting for Michelle to get a one-way ticket out of the movie.  She adds little, but is repellant and irritating.


6. At one point, her captors put some food under the door of her holding cell.  Rather than eating for strength, the pouting idiot throws the food against the door.  This harms her foes not one bit, but does mess up her already nasty cell.  Hours later, a slight lesson is learned, and she cooperates a bit for food.


7. Of course, cooperation does not do her any good in the end.  Her captors are siblings whose obsessions make them play out the nightmares of their youth with their abusive mother. Michelle is only a side prop.


8. Will she get out alive?  Let's hope not.  The thought of a sequel is scarier than the entire movie.


3. Conclusions
1. One line summary: Manipulative script and horrid acting define this weak slasher film.
2. Final Rating: 1/10  The one was for the lettering in the final credits, and the incidental music in the final credits.


4. Scores
1. Cinematography: 8/10 Not too bad; some weak light and soft focus, though.


2. Sound: 2/10 Had to listen to Michelle's terrible voice. Incidental music was not a plus during the movie itself.


3. Acting: 1/10 I like Elisabeth Röhm, and was sorry to see her in this mess.  Even so, this was not one of her better performances.  Kaylee DeFer, on the other hand, was simply terrible.  Christian Campbell was wretched.  Tobias Segal was worthless.


4. Screenplay: 1/10 Why do I have to listen to this ugly woman's ugly voice?  A woman with neutral looks and a routine sort of voice (just about anyone) would have drawn more sympathy, which would have given the film more depth.  But no, this harsh, useless, foul-mouthed, unrepentant, murdering scumbag is what everyone has to experience.  So the conclusion I get from this dubious casting is that the director wanted the audience to hate the protagonist from the get-go, and greet whatever is done to her with glee.  The backstory of the siblings was convenient as well.  So, let the slashing begin.  The ending was incredibly weak.