Towards Darkness (2007/Peace Arch DVD)
Picture:
C Sound: C+ Extras: C+ Film: C+
Though we
are certain kidnapping is an increasing problem, the films trying to make drama
out of it have been few, often odd, awkward, predictable and only go so far in
even dealing with the situation. Some
even, obviously exploit the situation, but Writer/Director Antonio Negret’s Towards Darkness (2007) is one of the
better such films by default with good performances and a consistent script as
the son of a rich family is snagged for top dollar.
Of
course, something more may be going on, but when that happens, it usually
stretches the story thin and this film cannot avoid that. Fortunately, the performances by Roberto
Urbina, David Sutcliffe, William Atherton, Tony Plana and America Ferrera (a
most underrated actress) make this compelling viewing and help to overcome some
of the usual problems. That makes this
worth seeing, even if it does not add up as well as I would have liked.
The shaky
camerawork did not help and the anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 image is too
soft too often, though I wonder if that is how John Ealer’s work would look at
its best. The Dolby Digital 5.1 mix has
some compressed dialogue and the soundfield is weak, but Chris Westlake’s score
is not bad. Extras include a making of
featurette, featurette on color grading the film and the original short (Darkness Minus Twelve) Negret and
Ferrera made that got this feature made.
- Nicholas Sheffo
