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Movies / On DVD / Darkness Falls
Darkness Falls

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Darkness Falls (2003)

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Reviews Counted:125

Fresh:10

Rotten:115

Average Rating:3.2/10

Consensus: A derivative movie where the scares are few and things don't make much sense.

Runtime: 86 mins

Genre: Horror/Suspense

Synopsis: For the past 150 years, the legend of Matilda Dixon, "the Tooth Fairy," has hung over the town of Darkness Falls like a dark cloud. After being unjustly accused of a heinous crime, the kindly old... For the past 150 years, the legend of Matilda Dixon, "the Tooth Fairy," has hung over the town of Darkness Falls like a dark cloud. After being unjustly accused of a heinous crime, the kindly old woman was savagely slaughtered by a mad rabble one night, and there are those who say her vengeful spirit hovers over the town, just waiting to pounce on anyone who sees her in the dark.

It happened to young Kyle. One night he saw Matilda and, though he managed to escape her evil clutches, his mother was brutally murdered.

Or was it just a hallucination?

Haunted by his painful memories of that night, and plagued by guilt, Kyle (Chaney Kley) has never allowed himself to be in the dark since. One day, he is summoned back to town by his childhood sweetheart Caitlin (Emma Caulfield), whose nine-year-old brother Michael (Lee Cormie) is having the same nightmares that drove Kyle to the brink of madness.

When he returns, however, Kyle realizes that Matilda’s evil spirit was no figment of his imagination. She is real and extremely dangerous. And if she catches him in the dark again, her horrible, scarred face will be the last thing he ever sees.

Revolution Studios presents A Distant Corners/Blue Star Pictures Production, Darkness Falls, distributed by Columbia Pictures. Starring Chaney Kley, Emma Caulfield and Lee Cormie. The film is directed by Jonathan Liebesman. The screenplay is by John Fasano & James Vanderbilt & Joe Harris from a story by Joe Harris. The producers are John Hegeman, John Fasano, William Sherak and Jason Shuman. The executive producers are Derek Dauchy and Lou Arkoff. Dan Laustsen is the director of photography. The production designer is George Liddle. The film is edited by Steve Mirkovich, A.C.E. and Tim Alverson. The music is by Brian Tyler. Creature Designed and Created by Stan Winston Studio.

Darkness Falls is rated PG-13 for terror and horror images, and brief language. [More]

Starring: Chaney Kley, Emma Caulfield, Lee Cormie, Grant Piro

Starring: Chaney Kley, Emma Caulfield, Lee Cormie, Grant Piro, Kestie Morassi, Alannah Oliver, Joshua Anderson

Director: Jonathan Liebesman

Director: Jonathan Liebesman
Screenwriter: Joseph Harris, John Fasano, John Vanderbilt
Producer: John Hegeman, William Sherak, John Fasano, Jason Shuman
Composer: Brian Tyler
Studio: Columbia Pictures

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Reviews for Darkness Falls

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1 - 20 (sorted by fresh rating; UK critics are listed first)
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This is a self-consciously silly, completely disposable multiplex movie that does its best to deliver its fair share of chills while struggling to keep a straight face.

Full Review Source: BBC | comment Comment
04/28/03
Jamie Russell
Jamie Russell
BBC
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

All semblance of plausibility is extracted, leaving a cast of TV actors to struggle with a plot with more gaps than an eight-year-old's grin.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
01/26/06
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The kind of movie that gets laughs entirely unintentionally.

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
12/30/06
Adam Smith
Adam Smith
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Disappointing horror film that is neither frightening nor amusing.

Full Review Source: ViewLondon | comment Comment
05/10/03
Matthew Turner
Matthew Turner
ViewLondon

Darkness fell along with my eyelids, during this dire by-the-numbers horror film.

Full Review Source: Guardian [UK] | comment Comment
07/08/03
Peter Bradshaw
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian [UK]
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

A mish mash of horror-movie clichés.

Full Review Source: Guardian [UK] | comment Comment
02/26/07
Philip French
Philip French
Guardian [UK]
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

There are some scary moments in this film, but basically they're because (1) it reminds you so much of almost every other horror movie you've ever seen and (2) they fill the soundtrack with unsettling and loud noises that would make anyone jump.

Full Review Source: Shadows on the Wall | comment Comment
05/11/03
Rich Cline
Rich Cline
Shadows on the Wall

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Sunday Times (Australia) | comment Comment
09/01/03
Sunday Times (Australia)
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

As far as semi-abandoned midwinter Hollywood compost goes, though, Darkness Falls basically brings home the bacon for horror fans.

Full Review Source: Salon.com | comment Comment
01/23/03
Andrew O'Hehir
Andrew O'Hehir
Salon.com

Though Darkness Falls isn't anywhere close to as frightening as last year's The Ring or Signs, it's certainly a continued step in the right direction for the horror genre.

Full Review Source: Reel Film Reviews | comment Comment
01/24/03
David Nusair
David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews

As amateurish as first-time director Jonathan Liebesman is with handling his performers and their roles, he is a clear technical expert, heightening a distinguishable, foreboding atmosphere while delivering thrills and chills at a clip rate.

Full Review Source: DustinPutman.com | comment Comment
01/24/03
Dustin Putman
Dustin Putman
DustinPutman.com

Darkness Falls banks on the type of psychological thrills that made old-fashioned horror films a hoot.

Full Review Source: Reno Gazette-Journal | comment Comment
05/02/03
Forrest Hartman
Forrest Hartman
Reno Gazette-Journal

Darkness Falls casts a pall over its genre rather than do it justice. It should, however, appeal to horror fans looking for a cheap thrill.

Full Review Source: Hollywood.com | comment Comment
01/24/03
Guylaine Cadorette
Guylaine Cadorette
Hollywood.com

There are more than a few images in this film that may linger once the theater empties... just imagine how much money parents could save if they let their little ones watch this...!

Full Review Source: MovieCrypt.com | comment Comment
01/27/03
Kevin A. Ranson
Kevin A. Ranson
MovieCrypt.com

One can almost imagine director Liebesman walking out of the lackluster Blair Witch sequel going..."I could have done it better." And he did.

Full Review Source: New Times | comment Comment
01/22/03
Luke Y. Thompson
Luke Y. Thompson
New Times

Exactly what a horror movie should be; fun, scary, fast paced, and with 'jump' moments galore.

Full Review Source: Three Movie Buffs | comment 1 Comment
09/30/05
Scott Nash
Scott Nash
Three Movie Buffs

A flick with no real bite.

Full Review Source: E! Online | comment Comment
01/23/03
E! Online
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

This is horror-flick boo-ya at its most rote.

Full Review Source: Village Voice | comment Comment
01/28/03
Alex Pappademas
Alex Pappademas
Village Voice

The only thing scary is reading the credits and realizing that there were three paid screenwriters whose combined IQs could only create something as brainless as Darkness Falls.

Full Review Source: Juicy Cerebellum | comment Comment
02/05/03
Alex Sandell
Alex Sandell
Juicy Cerebellum

The characters are empty, the performances wooden, and of course, the grave little kid is omniscient.

Full Review Source: Sydney Morning Herald | comment Comment
08/30/03
Alexa Moses
Alexa Moses
Sydney Morning Herald
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by fresh rating; UK critics are listed first)
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Latest News for Darkness Falls

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February 22, 2006: "Darkness" Director to Helm Jason's Origin Tale
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February 06, 2006: Arquette "Trips" into Directorial Debut
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