Darkness

Maria (Lena Olin) and Mark Rua (Iain Glen) with their children Regina (Anna Paquin) and Paul move into an isolated house in Spain. Mark is troubled and has a complicated relationship with his father Albert Rua (Giancarlo Giannini).

Director Jaume Balagueró seems to have a grasp on moody horror visuals. The movie mostly works, if somewhat a slow bore, until the last act. It's a mistake to separate Anna Paquin from the family but sending her back to the house may be a bigger mistake. The movie needs to plant the seeds of this premise a lot better and a lot sooner. The opening tells us nothing other than a 40 years difference. By that alone, we have to assume either Mark or Maria's involvement. There could be so much more done with this premise. It needs to introduce the darkness sooner. They should start killing right away. The story needs work.