Coming Home in the Dark

I was really liking the movie at first. It showed the family, they got along, what they did on their trip, basically getting to know the main characters. Then the bad guys show up. Still suspenseful, but after a short period I'm baffled why they made the decisions they made. And the ending was so stupid, which made me really dislike the film even more.

What I figured was going to be a 7 or an 8 at first but after all that it gets a 5.

A dull, pointless drama and nothing more. You won't be horrified or thrilled, and once the credits roll you'll think "what was the point of this?"

This film tried so hard to be edgy and dark but you're left unimpressed. A thug wearing a trench coat who happens to be a pensive, star gazing poet? A brooding mute with a lame one liner at the end? Groundbreaking.

It's writing and execution is amateurish, unfortunate as the story did have some potential. Most frustrating were ridiculous character choices, bad script writing, cringeworthy acting from the dad. I truly could not believe the parents had just suffered the most devastating loss imaginable and then carried on engaging with the criminals petty games. Don't waste your time, Killing Grounds is in the same vein but actually executes.

Okay, so it's 60/40 for me on this one. The acting is good. The 'gore' and shock factor is great (if that's your thing) All of the technical aspects are okay. That said, after watching it I thought to myself, *WHAT WAS THE POINT?* I don't want to include spoilers, but I found the plot itself very frustrating and unsatisfying. Would I recommend a watch? If there's not a lot else out there... sure. But I wouldn't go out of my way for it.

The scheme of a couple abducted by a group of psychopaths reminds me OPEN SEASON and PENTHOUSE, in a disturbing, nasty, insane atmosphere, where audiences feel dizzy nearly all long the movie. It is not always very clear and fully explained, you have to watch and listen it very closely. Not for all audiences, not for Hollywood crap films fans. Don't watch it with your parents in law around the poultry, this is not entertainment. This is actually a complex psychological study which maybe needs to be seen several times. This is not a gore, horror movie, nor a thriller, perhaps more a bloody and brutal drama. There is also a bit of Michael Haneke's FUNNY GAMES, but just a bit.

No, this isn't action packed but that's ok because it's DOES have a story and it DOES have a point! I don't think the people who thought otherwise watched past the first 20 minutes! If you like a gritty and sometimes gruesome thriller, give this a watch. Yes, there were a few plot holes but nothing that really made a difference to the film. Dark and meaningful. I would suggest watching with subtitles on though, because some of the important dialogue is quite mumbled!