

Movie review, 'Darkness Falls'

Have you ever wondered why critics will sometimes give a film they heartily dislike as much as one star? It's so there is room left in the depths of the ratings netherworld for an abomination like "Darkness Falls," a lamebrained attempt at horror that is just a derivative pastiche of ideas lifted from other bad films. But if you do decide to attend this cinematic fire sale, don't be late. The best part of the film is its first five minutes, thanks to a stylish prologue that helps explain-together with a way-too-long voice-over-the supposedly creepy back story.

"Darkness Falls" is about an enigmatic woman named Matilda Dixon (a.k.a. "The Tooth Fairy") wrongfully accused of a heinous crime in the town of Darkness Falls, Maine, in the 1800s. Mass hysteria led to her murder, and her body being burned by an angry mob. As revenge for this injustice, Matilda swore to take it out on the town, laying on a curse somehow tied to the children of Darkness Falls losing their baby teeth.

It's not much of a curse, since it seems to take 150 years for Matilda to seek out her first victim, a quiet boy named Kyle who has just lost his last baby tooth. And even then, Matilda misses Kyle, and kills his mom instead. But the murder is so gruesome and mysterious, the town thinks poor Kyle did it, leading to years of foster homes, therapy, medication and a large black bag filled with flashlights (According to the hazy legend, Matilda can only "get you" in the dark.)

The story gets even goofier when, twelve years later, Kyle is called back to Darkness Falls to help the younger brother of his old pal, Caitlin, who is experiencing "night terrors" in fear of Matilda.

All of this exposition is tossed out just so the film can present a series of loud, bloody confrontations between Matilda and members of Darkness Falls, starting in the woods, continuing over at the town jail, and ending with a fiery climax inside the old lighthouse.

The acting is mediocre at best, as is the direction by first-timer Jonathan Liebesman, who seems to telegraph each one of the many shots where something "unexpected" (a cat, a friend, Matilda herself) jumps out of the dark.

Even "The Tooth Fairy" herself looks bargain basement, resembling a Halloween lawn puppet caught in a windstorm. Its creation is credited to "Stan Winston Studios" instead of the legendary creature guru Stan Winston himself, which means that Stan might have farmed this one out. Given the shoddy quality of the rest of "Darkness Falls," such a thing wouldn't be surprising.

1/2 star (out of 4) "Darkness Falls"
Directed by Jonathan Liebesman; written by John Fasano, James Vanderbilt and Joe Harris; photographed by Dan Laustsen, music by Brian Tyler. Opens Friday. Running time: 1:25. MPAA rating: PG-13 (violence and strong language).
Kyle...Chaney Kley
Caitlin...Emma Caulfield
Michael...Lee Cormie
Larry...Grant Piro
Matt...Sullivan Stapleton

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