 |
 |
|
|
 |
 |
THIS DARKNESS
Produced, Written, and Directed by Dylan O'Leary
Edited by Chris Cook
Director of Photography- John McLeedVan - Dylan O'Leary
Tarquin - David Everritt
Rally - Jenevieve FrankDylan O'Leary's THIS DARKNESS is a noble effort that sets out to deliver an epic tale of modern day vampire lore but fails miserably due to its ambitious nature and budgetary shortcomings. This is a clear-cut case of a filmmaker biting off more than he can chew and movie suffering greatly.
Now I'm doing something I've sworn never to do, writing an unfavorable review due primarily to the filmmaker's limitations, irregardless of the story and themes presented. Why? Because O'Leary did something no moviemaker should ever do, he sold himself and his movie short by not trying to present the possible product available. In turn, he's sold short the audience by allowing the movie to be commercially distributed and expected people to pay for something that's little more than an amateur effort. Granted, that's as much the fault of the distributor as it is the videomaker.
The look of THIS DARKNESS has a great deal to be desired, and at times the footage is nearly unmatchable. While this is only partly due to the rudimentary shooting style, the overall footage is simply dark. This could be a product of the VHS screener sent to me by Brain Damage. So far their DVD screeners have been superb.
If you're a first time filmmaker, I strongly suggest you don't cast yourself in the lead or you'll fall into the same trappings as O'Leary, who casts himself as Dr. Van Helsing, a grandson of Dracula's famed nemesis. By being in front of the camera, O'Leary can't allow himself to objectively direct the actors. While O'Leary gives a relaxed performance as Van Helsing, he's blind to the stiffness of his supporting cast, many of whom are nothing more than family or friends whose amateur nature pokes through like a rusty nail.
Van Helsing, or Van as he asks his students to call him, is working on a government project investigating blood deceases. After misleading the government and directing his research down a different path, Van is confronted by the lord of the undead and ordered to create a bride. It's a Dracula meets Bride of Frankenstein amped up with X-Files like conspiracy theories. The genre hodgepodge could have worked if O'Leary had a better grasp of moviemaking. For a better example of blending various genres with little money, seek out the superior THE ITEM, from Artisan Entertainment, which blends crime, horror, and the muppets.
Brain Damage Films
This Darkness