Regrets, the teenagers on the coronary heart of “Dark Windows” have a number of.
A tragedy sends three mates to a uncared for property (don’t name it a cabin!) the place a masked stranger stalks the property. We’ve seen this story earlier than, however the filmmakers take pains to sketch out the backstories with extra vigor than anticipated.
The style goodies lastly arrive, however once they do they run headfirst into dopey choices, head-scratchers that even horror followers could discover too arduous to swallow.
A automobile crash units the story in movement, however screenwriter Ulvrik Kraft retains key particulars purposely out of attain. Tilly (Anna Bullard) attends the funeral for a buddy who died within the accident.
Our heroine has a deeply private stake within the matter.
Tilly was behind the wheel, and from the soar the movie suggests her negligence performed a job within the accident.
So Tilly’s loyal mates Monica (Annie Hamilton) and Peter (Rory Alexander) persuade her to spend a weekend at a sprawling, if underused property the place they’ll reconnect and begin dwelling their lives once more.
Tilly can’t put their buddy’s loss of life out of her head, and that’s earlier than she senses they aren’t alone on the trip spot.
The buddies are glad to drink their troubles away, besides Peter could also be hurtling towards full-blown alcoholism. The feminine characters are much less outlined, however each provide sufficient relatable tics to maneuver the story ahead.
Slowly.
This triller is in no hurry, and we’re immersed within the inter-group dynamics earlier than the horror points arrive.
“Dark Windows” boasts a small funds and an unfamiliar solid, however its biggest power lies in its tough edges. The characters don’t all the time act like most horror movie teenagers do. The screenplay isn’t impressed, nevertheless it doesn’t fall again on cookie-cutter exchanges.
The interaction is clumsy at occasions, identical to in the actual world, and the performers provide credible turns to promote that authenticity. The horror tropes line up for our inspection, finally, although some nagging plot holes will drive some to distraction.
[Warning: Adult language in clip]
The third act lastly picks up the tempo, and the thrills are executed with excessive effectivity. So is the digicam work, which takes way more care than a style train ordinarily would possibly. Even the sooner, quiet scenes boast a tranquility that lulls us right into a false sense of safety.
That’s good.
There’s nonetheless a thriller afoot, however you don’t must be Columbo to suss out the suspects. The waning minutes may nonetheless ship the style thrills with no first-class detective story, however “Dark Windows” settles for a morality lesson with too little chew.
HiT or Miss: “Dark Windows” fuses teen angst with horror, and the outcomes are watchable however lower than thrilling.
