Ciel obscur

I am completely surprised at some of the low ratings and remarks concerning this movie. My daughter and I just watched it. I hate horrors because I have nightmares all night long after watching one. I stick to the suspense and thrillers. I had reservations about this movie after reading the makers of this also made paranormal activity which I watched and found utterly cheesy. Just my own personal opinion. But this movie I really enjoyed. It kept me on the edge of my seat with my hands at the ready to slap across my eyes. I love a well made alien encounter movie and this movie did it for me. Lots of jumping moments, lots of edge of the seat suspense. I did not walk away feeling like I should have spent my money on something else!

'DARK SKIES': Three Stars (Out of Five)

A science fiction thriller about a family terrorized by an unknown force which may be extraterrestrial in origin. It was written and directed by Scott Stewart (who also helmed the sci-fi thrillers 'LEGION' and 'PRIEST'). It stars Keri Russell, Josh Hamilton, J.K. Simmons, Dakota Goyo (of 'REAL STEEL' fame) and Kadan Rockett. The movie is a routine suspense thriller/horror film but it does have some good scares and creepy imagery.

The film revolves around the Barrett family, who live in the suburbs, struggling to get by while Mr. Barrett, Daniel (Hamilton), tries to find work. Lacy Barrett is a real-estate agent who's struggling to sell a house while her oldest son Jesse (Goyo) is discovering girls. Strange occurrences begin happening in the families' home, involving food in the kitchen, and what first looks like a possible intruder turns into Daniel and Lacy questioning their youngest son Sam's (Rockett) mental stability. Weirder things keep happening though and they soon begin involving the other family members as well.

The movie is kind of slow-paced at times but it has enough good scares throughout to keep it going. It's a little like a 'PARANORMAL ACTIVITY' film except better (in my opinion). It also seems influenced by two Spielberg flicks; 'CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND' and 'POLTERGEIST'. 'POLTERGEIST' is one of my all time favorite movies in this genre and to say a film resembles it at all is quite a compliment. This film isn't nearly as creative, fun or memorable but it does work as just a thriller. Not a great scary movie but a little better than average.

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Am i crazy? Did this one fly over my head or is it just profusely underrated in the modern horror genre. "Dark Skies" is an upper tier horror with criminally low recognition. Boy was I surprised how good and actually frightening this film was. Horror is my drug I am numb to it at this point, and maybe because I wasn't expecting anything but this one genuinely shocked me. Sure there were a couple minor flaws in character actions but overall this one got the job done plus some. Currently a 6.3 on IMDB should be around 7. Super underrated.

What sets Dark Skies apart from typical horror fare is its focus on the emotional turmoil and psychological impact experienced by the characters. The Barrett family's gradual descent into fear and desperation is convincingly portrayed, making it easy for the audience to empathize with their plight. The film cleverly explores themes of family bonds, the fear of the unknown, and the lengths to which a family will go to protect their loved ones.

Keri Russell delivers an outstanding performance as Lacy Barrett, portraying a mother who becomes increasingly concerned for her family's safety. Her emotional range and vulnerability draw the audience into the unfolding nightmare. Josh Hamilton is equally impressive in his role as the supportive yet skeptical husband, grappling with the inexplicable events around him.

The film's tense atmosphere is skillfully crafted, with excellent use of lighting, sound design, and camera work. Director Scott Stewart masterfully builds suspense through well-timed jump scares and eerie imagery, keeping the viewers on edge throughout the movie. The supernatural elements are subtly introduced, and the mystery surrounding the malevolent forces adds to the overall sense of dread.

One of the movie's strongest aspects is its ability to instill a sense of lingering fear and unease. Instead of relying on excessive gore or cheap thrills, Dark Skies focuses on psychological terror, leaving audiences with an unsettling feeling that lingers long after the credits roll.

An interesting ride would pretty much sum up my experience of this film.

The director did a smart job in the beginning by introducing the subject slowly and gradually in the sense that although we knew something was not quite right with this suburban house, he did not rush to bombard us with any massive amounts of visuals or gory scenes thus leaving us both intrigued and in anticipation mode. That is a technique not commonly used and achieving that takes skill.

Following that, the story runs smoothly as our characters go from surprise, to shock, then disbelief and acceptance. Good choice of adult and children actors, in combination to the gradual built up made this an stimulating watch.

It was the climax that I found to be rather anticlimactic. Nothing innovative, or even new. Whilst it never ceased to be thrilling, let's be clear about that, somehow the overdoing of visuals and certain ambiguities concerning the unfolding of the final moments left me somewhat colder.

Still, it is a highly effective and watchable thriller.