In the Dark Half

Very slow story. It was beautifully made and the acting was great! Shame the actors weren't part of better storyline.

Sullen teenager Marie (Jessica Barden) suffering from teenage angst is more troubled when the neighbour's young son she is babysitting suddenly dies. Her mother is unhinged, the neighbour goes shooting rabbits at night, the townsfolk hold him responsible somehow for his son's death.

Marie is friendless and is drawn to the woods where she feels the dead boy's presence.

This a low budget film shot in and around Bristol, the supernatural element is hinted but it does not have a pay off. It is atmospheric but ends rather disappointingly.

The acting is terrific - Marie (Jessica Barden) reminds me of a young Christina Ricci - has that haunted look and Filthy (Tony Curran) is great as the bereaved father. This film mixes emotions of loss, grief, with the (seemingly) supernatural as the actors (and actresses) work through their grief at the loss of a little boy - for no apparent reason.

In the mix is a strained relationship with the mother (read Prozac Nation review), some weird bunnies (you'll swear they are the reincarnated dead boy) with various sightings of the dead and communications with the spirit world. All in all a very interesting movie - beautifully shot in a brooding atmosphere - which held my interest the entire way. This film goes to show that you do not have to spend millions of dollars/pounds on famous actors and actresses to produce an excellent movie. But it does take good writing, an interesting plot, good cinematography, and good acting. This movie has all those elements. I liked the very touching ending with the bereaved father.

Certainly worth your while (unless you are a Bruce Willis fan - then skip it.) DonB

Yes, I also wasn't sure where the movie was heading, but I didn't mind it at all. From the first moment on it had a firm grip on me because of the eerie atmosphere, intriguing takeoff and beautiful cinematography (a joy for the senses and the stomach to NOT have to endure the documetary style restless camera. A pitty the wonderful engaging steady cam is mostly found in horror/thriller. Longing to see more of it in other genres too.)

There was a moment I felt a little annoyed by the girl because she didn't seem able to change her expression. Or say anything sensible at all. Was ready to dislike the actress (Barden) but all became clear in the end and her character was really, REALLY very troubled so the apathy turned out to be good acting. Thank goodness. What really surprised me was that it started rather unearthy, morphed into quite chilling, but ended up as a deeply sad and strangely comforting movie. Very nice.

It is a really tough movie to describe. I'm not going to use spoilers, though even if I did it'd be very difficult to catch the essence of it. It is a very spiritual movie. Of course it might feel fake for some, quite a few may see where this is heading (at least a general direction), but it's still a ride worth taking.

If you like low budget cinema/drama (with a touch of horror) that is. The acting is really good (the kid is supposed to be annoying and especially unnerving) and the story has this vibe to it that strangely attracted me to it. It's not perfect by all means, but I do think the fact that it tries to be different and especially "feel" different, sets it apart from some other movies (in a good way).