We actually don’t belong underground… till we’re useless.
One of humankind’s many accomplishments over time has seen us exploring all “corners” of the world, from deep jungles to the tallest of mountains. Our want for extra is aware of no bounds, so we’re nonetheless working to go to the whole thing of the ocean ground and any remaining nooks and crannies we will discover. Not content material with the locations that exist, although, means we’re additionally on the market making new ones. Digging deep holes into the earth. Carving our method by means of dust, rock, and historical past itself. And we’re not all the time going to love what we discover. Films like The Descent and As Above, So Below have mined each scares and ambiance from our claustrophobic intentions, however lots others haven’t discovered the horror. The Deep Dark is the newest contender, and whereas a low funds retains its ambition from tipping over into greatness, it’s nonetheless delivers chills and a stable creature function down in the dead of night.
Post-war France, and industries are booming. The mining enterprise, particularly, is shifting males deeper seeking larger vitality riches, however for one group of miners that search is about to come back to an finish. A professor (Jean-Hugues Anglade) has satisfied administration to let him journey down into the depths and direct a really particular excavation. It appears he has purpose to imagine a treasure of each financial and cultural significance sits simply previous the thousand toes mark, however hassle begins nearly as quickly as he and the miners attain their supposed goal. The head miner, Roland (Samuel Le Bihan), isn’t thrilled about any of it, however the males, together with newcomer Amir (Amir El Kacem), see solely the promised bonus pay on the finish of the tunnel. Unfortunately for them, unhealthy luck, poor selections, and an historical creature with bloodlust on its thoughts imply their finish could come earlier than anticipated.
The Deep Dark opens with a tease of what’s to come back with a prologue set a century earlier revealing different doomed miners and a glimpse of one thing unnatural in the dead of night. It units the tone properly and will get viewers hunching nearer to the display, and it permits author/director Mathieu Turi the chance to spend extra time introducing among the characters heading into the earth in 1956. Even higher, it permits time for viewers to see and admire the attractive manufacturing design (by way of Marc Thiébault) and interval particulars of the world these males are abandoning. It all feels actual to the attention, and that visible reality continues down into the darkish, tight confines of the world under.
As talked about on the high, different movies have aimed for equally claustrophobic terrors and in the end succeeded higher within the execution, however Turi’s movie nonetheless finds an uncomfortable tightness. From the small, packed elevator descending into the earth to tunnels lit solely by lantern — and solely to a close-by distance leaving a pitch black maw past — The Deep Dark has your quantity earlier than its monstrous risk even arrives. And that’s a very good factor as that monster’s look is one thing of a double-edged sword.
Glimpsed solely in bits and items and within the shadows at first, Turi’s creature is revealed quickly sufficient in all its glory, and it’s a visible triumph. The beast hints at historical, Lovecraftian origins and is dropped at life by way of solely sensible results. It’s basically a big puppet, like a deranged escapee from Sesame Street intent on crushing heads, ripping flesh, and extra, and the result’s a grim deal with for the senses. The draw back, although, and the one space the place a low funds actually comes into play, is in regard to its movement limitations. The vary and pace of these actions go away it feeling each bit like a puppet, and which may be sufficient to distract some viewers. The extra forgiving amongst us, although, will give attention to appreciating the very cool strengths over the unlucky weak spot.
Turi’s script sees The Deep Dark provide up a slight commentary on imperialism, class, and extra, however the principle level right here comes right down to little greater than survival. The small ensemble does good work throughout the board with even the stereotypical caricature characters convincing of their greed and concern. We’re additionally given a glimpse of one thing larger on the narrative entrance, and whereas it hardly units up a sequel it’s clear there’s one thing extra apocalyptic to this monstrous risk than anticipated.
The Deep Dark can’t fairly make its mark as nice nor unique, and others have approached comparable concepts higher, however there’s no denying the effectiveness of the horror. The darkish, the small areas, the hollowed out loneliness that’s present to this point beneath the floor, and the creature intent on tearing you limb from limb, climbing out of corpses, and speaking by means of your severed head all work to make for a compelling and engaging little chiller.
The Deep Dark performed Toronto After Dark and different festivals this 12 months, and it’ll hopefully see an official U.S. launch subsequent 12 months.
Related Topics: Horror, Toronto After Dark
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