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Movies / On DVD / Darkness Falls
Darkness Falls

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Darkness Falls (2003)

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Reviews Counted:125

Fresh:10

Rotten:115

Average Rating:3.2/10

Consensus: A derivative movie where the scares are few and things don't make much sense.

Rated: PG-13 [See Full Rating] for terror and horror images, and brief language

Runtime: 86 mins

Genre: Horror/Suspense

Theatrical Release:Jan 24, 2003 Wide

Box Office: $32,032,215

Synopsis: For the past 150 years, the legend of Matilda Dixon, "the Tooth Fairy," has hung over the town of Darkness Falls like a dark cloud. After being unjustly accused of a heinous crime, the kindly old... For the past 150 years, the legend of Matilda Dixon, "the Tooth Fairy," has hung over the town of Darkness Falls like a dark cloud. After being unjustly accused of a heinous crime, the kindly old woman was savagely slaughtered by a mad rabble one night, and there are those who say her vengeful spirit hovers over the town, just waiting to pounce on anyone who sees her in the dark.

It happened to young Kyle. One night he saw Matilda and, though he managed to escape her evil clutches, his mother was brutally murdered.

Or was it just a hallucination?

Haunted by his painful memories of that night, and plagued by guilt, Kyle (Chaney Kley) has never allowed himself to be in the dark since. One day, he is summoned back to town by his childhood sweetheart Caitlin (Emma Caulfield), whose nine-year-old brother Michael (Lee Cormie) is having the same nightmares that drove Kyle to the brink of madness.

When he returns, however, Kyle realizes that Matilda’s evil spirit was no figment of his imagination. She is real and extremely dangerous. And if she catches him in the dark again, her horrible, scarred face will be the last thing he ever sees.

Revolution Studios presents A Distant Corners/Blue Star Pictures Production, Darkness Falls, distributed by Columbia Pictures. Starring Chaney Kley, Emma Caulfield and Lee Cormie. The film is directed by Jonathan Liebesman. The screenplay is by John Fasano & James Vanderbilt & Joe Harris from a story by Joe Harris. The producers are John Hegeman, John Fasano, William Sherak and Jason Shuman. The executive producers are Derek Dauchy and Lou Arkoff. Dan Laustsen is the director of photography. The production designer is George Liddle. The film is edited by Steve Mirkovich, A.C.E. and Tim Alverson. The music is by Brian Tyler. Creature Designed and Created by Stan Winston Studio.

Darkness Falls is rated PG-13 for terror and horror images, and brief language. [More]

Starring: Chaney Kley, Emma Caulfield, Lee Cormie, Grant Piro

Starring: Chaney Kley, Emma Caulfield, Lee Cormie, Grant Piro, Kestie Morassi, Alannah Oliver, Joshua Anderson

Director: Jonathan Liebesman

Director: Jonathan Liebesman
Screenwriter: Joseph Harris, John Fasano, John Vanderbilt
Producer: John Hegeman, William Sherak, John Fasano, Jason Shuman
Composer: Brian Tyler
Studio: Columbia Pictures

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Release:

Apr 22, 2003

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Reviews for Darkness Falls

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101 - 120 (sorted by date)
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As far as semi-abandoned midwinter Hollywood compost goes, though, Darkness Falls basically brings home the bacon for horror fans.

Full Review Source: Salon.com | comment Comment
01/23/03
Andrew O'Hehir
Andrew O'Hehir
Salon.com
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The best thing to be said for Darkness Falls is that it contains one decent piece of advice: Stay in the light. When the lights are on, after all, this movie won't be shown.

Full Review Source: Orlando Sentinel | comment Comment
01/23/03
Jay Boyar
Jay Boyar
Orlando Sentinel

Could just as well have been titled Dumb Then Dumber for the way its plot makes decreasing sense even by the low standards of B horror flicks.

Full Review Source: New York Post | comment Comment
01/23/03
Jonathan Foreman
Jonathan Foreman
New York Post
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Darkness Falls has some chilling scares and spooky scenes, but not enough of them to keep your interest -- or to reward all the effort the movie puts you through.

Full Review Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | comment Comment
01/23/03
Sue Pierman
Sue Pierman
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Nothing about this makes sense, even by the standards of bad horror movies.

Full Review Source: Houston Chronicle | comment Comment
01/23/03
Eric Harrison
Eric Harrison
Houston Chronicle
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

A dreary exercise in cheap shocks aimed at kids.

Full Review Source: Hollywood Reporter | comment Comment
01/23/03
David Hunter
David Hunter
Hollywood Reporter
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

A flick with no real bite.

Full Review Source: E! Online | comment Comment
01/23/03
E! Online

It's an instantly disposable and shamelessly derivative piece of work, but first-time feature helmer Jonathan Liebesman shows a savvy flair for atmospheric visuals...

Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
01/23/03
Joe Leydon
Joe Leydon
Variety
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

[A] relentlessly derivative horror cheapie.

Full Review Source: Orlando Weekly | comment Comment
01/23/03
Steve Schneider
Steve Schneider
Orlando Weekly

About as scary as a ride on a minor roller coaster, it unrolls its amplified butcher-block shock effects within the first five minutes.

Full Review Source: New York Times | comment Comment
01/23/03
Stephen Holden
Stephen Holden
New York Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

It's a downer to see so much effort expended on such junk.

Full Review Source: Los Angeles Times | comment Comment
01/23/03
Kevin Thomas
Kevin Thomas
Los Angeles Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Darkness Falls is the movie to see if you've ever wondered what a movie plays like with all the unimportant stuff -- narrative, character development -- cut out and the action kept in.

Full Review Source: Dallas Morning News | comment Comment
01/23/03
Gary Dowell
Gary Dowell
Dallas Morning News
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Neophyte director Jonathan Liebesman tries to dredge up chills with loud noises and those unexpected black cats that jump out of total darkness...For a really scary Tooth Fairy, try Tom Noonan in Michael Mann's "Manhunter."

Full Review Source: Reeling Reviews | comment Comment
01/23/03
Laura Clifford
Laura Clifford
Reeling Reviews

The story and characters are so thin that Darkness Falls has nothing to offer but the entertainment value of child endangerment.

Full Review Source: Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL) | comment Comment
01/23/03
Jeffrey Westhoff
Jeffrey Westhoff
Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL)

There's only so much sustainable interest things jumping randomly out of dark corners can hold for most sentient beings.

Full Review Source: Film Freak Central | comment Comment
01/23/03
Walter Chaw
Walter Chaw
Film Freak Central

Silly and pointless, but manages to make you jump a few times.

Full Review Source: Supercala.com | comment Comment
01/23/03
John Venable
John Venable
Supercala.com

There's a lot that's familiar in Darkness Falls, and not much that's good.

Full Review Source: Reel.com | comment Comment
01/23/03
Rod Armstrong
Rod Armstrong
Reel.com

As Darkness Falls devolves into an uninteresting chase movie, it disappointingly squanders the film's sorta-clever premise and genuinely scary opening scene.

Full Review Source: Citysearch | comment Comment
01/23/03
Dan Fazio
Dan Fazio
Citysearch

A lamebrained attempt at horror that is just a derivative pastiche of ideas lifted from other bad films.

Full Review Source: Chicago Tribune | comment Comment
01/23/03
John Petrakis
John Petrakis
Chicago Tribune
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The truly frightening darkness...is when the house lights dim and this wretched excuse for a thriller starts up...a chaotic jumble of horror movie tropes.

Full Review Source: One Guy's Opinion | comment Comment
01/23/03
Frank Swietek
Frank Swietek
One Guy's Opinion
 
 
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Latest News for Darkness Falls

August 30, 2006: Poster & Plot for "Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning"
I was among the initially-skeptical and eventually-impressed who actually really liked Marcus Nispel's "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" remake. Do I think it's even remotely... More...

June 07, 2006: Trailer Bulletin: Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning
If you're not a hardcore horror fan, this could get a little confusing: In the beginning there was Tobe Hooper's "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre," and it was good. It was... More...

February 22, 2006: "Darkness" Director to Helm Jason's Origin Tale
New Line has hired "Darkness Falls" director Jonathan Liebesman to helm the as-yet-untitled "Friday the 13th" prequel which is being fast-tracked in an... More...

February 06, 2006: Arquette "Trips" into Directorial Debut
Character actor David Arquette will make his directorial debut with an indie horror flick entitled "The Tripper," which he wrote with Joe "Darkness Falls"... More...

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