The Dark Hours
by Paul Fox
List Price:
Our Price: $2.69
You Save: $10.30 (79%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $0.81 (click here)
Category: DVD
See more DVD releases
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
DVD Cover Information
Actor: Aidan Devine, Dov Tiefenbach, Gordon Currie, Iris Graham, Kate GreenhouseDirector: Paul Fox
Brand: Uni
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); Spanish (Subtitled); English (Original Language)
Format: Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 80 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2006-02-07
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Studio: Freestyle Releasing
Movie Reviews of The Dark Hours
Movie Review: Squirmy Goodness
Summary: 5 Stars
Director Paul Fox' The Dark Hours does one thing extremely well that is a staple of horror--it makes you squirm. This is a very disturbing, occasionally hard to watch film. Viewers with sensitive constitutions should be forewarned.
It's not so much that it's gory--although it is a bit, but Fox understands that the key to the effect he's shooting for is character development. So this is ultimately a small ensemble film--five characters in a couple of rooms, and we get to know all of these characters very well, thanks to both the writing, by Wil Zmak, and a fine set of performances. The characters are fully fleshed out and we can either identify and/or sympathize with them, so when some of them do terrible things to others, it has a lot more impact, and even when it's only a threat and there's nothing graphic about it, we feel it almost as if these events were happening to friends. The Dark Hours is very literally a psychological film, a fact reflected in its main character's occupation and the circumstances of the villainous characters.
It's also a "rubber reality" film--those are defined partially through "shifting" realities, where we as an audience, usually along with at least some characters, don't know quite what was real, if anything. After the recent spate of rubber reality films that all used essentially the same plot--including Stay (2005), The Jacket (2005), November (2004), The I Inside (2003), and eight or nine others going at least all the way back to Jacob's Ladder (1990) and the short The Awakening (1990)--The Dark Hours very refreshingly uses different kinds of twists in its questionably hallucinatory succession of scenes. The ending of the film is clear enough while still being nicely ambiguous. There is also an alternate ending on the DVD that is less ambiguous, but I don't think it works nearly as well. More ambiguity is better in a film like this.
And if you want themes and subtexts, Fox has them here in spades, including the desperation of those who know they're dying, the classic "who's crazy" conundrum between psychiatric professionals and their patients, and the turmoil of disintegrating relationships.
But you don't have to pay attention to that stuff to enjoy this excellent film. Just sit back and squirm.
Summary of The Dark Hours
Dr. Samantha Goodman (Kate Greenhouse) is a beautiful, young psychiatrist at an institute for the criminally insane. Burnt out, she drives to the family?s winter cottage to spend time with her husband and sister. A relaxing weekend is jarringly interrupted when a terrifying and unexpected guest arrives. Harlan Payne (Aidan Devine) is a violent sex offender and patient of the doctor. He has escaped from the hospital seeking revenge. Harlan is convinced Dr. Goodman once conducted experiments on him. What follows is an extraordinary night of terror and evil mind games where escape is not an option.Similar DVD Movies
Night of the DemonsRelease date: 2004-08-24; DVD
Best price: $6.09
Price in other shops:
Night of the CreepsSony; Release date: 2009-10-27; DVD
Best price: $6.72
Price in other shops:
Fear Dot ComWarner Brothers; Release date: 2003-01-14; Published: 2003-01-01; DVD
Best price: $0.98
Price in other shops:
The Cellar DoorMONTEREY HOME VIDEO; Release date: 2008-04-08; DVD
Best price: $3.49
Price in other shops:
The CraziesFox; Release date: 2010-06-29; DVD
Best price: $5.64
Price in other shops:
CreepLION'S GATE ENTERTAINMENT; Release date: 2005-12-20; DVD
Best price: $8.67
Price in other shops:
TriangleFirst Look Pictures; Release date: 2010-02-02; DVD
Best price: $11.67
Price in other shops:
AmusementNEW Line Home Video; Release date: 2009-01-20; DVD
Best price: $1.87
Price in other shops:
IntruderMusic Video Dist; Release date: 2005-08-09; DVD
Best price: $6.88
Price in other shops:
RestraintMOYER,STEPHEN; Release date: 2008-08-19; DVD
Best price: $1.79
Price in other shops: