3D sci-fi thriller about a group of young Americans visiting Russia when aliens invade earth. Stars Olivia Thirlby (The Wackness), Emile Hirsch (Into the Wild) and Rachael Taylor (Grey's Anatomy).
Stranded in a desolate Moscow, the five yanks are forced into the seemingly impossible task of surviving and escaping the onslaught brought on by the energy-absorbing creatures. Produced by Russian filmmaker Timur Brekmambetov (Night Watch, Wanted), the film promises to differentiate itself from other alien invasion movies by showing the attacks and responses from a Russian perspective.
“I didn’t cross half the world to see Americans,” our American protagonist Sean boldly proclaims, relaying a similar thought I had about this film. Though the movie promised to show an alien invasion from a Russian perspective, the film decides to track a couple of bland yanks as they run into every Russian caricature in the book of cultural clichés.
The first half-hour does a pretty decent job depicting the transparent energy-absorbing creatures wiping out the human populous. After dashing through some pretty hopeless character development, we’re treated to a whole load of people disintegrating as our heroes run for their lives. It’s a cool-looking effect, one that doesn’t get old even when the rest of the movie does.
The second half-hour flips the handbrake on, dragging the film to a stand-still. Whilst the scenes of a vacant Moscow look impressive, they’re wasted on the headless chickens we’re forced to follow. Everything they learn about their alien counterparts seems to happen out of coincidence and dumb luck, as do their encounters with other, more helpful survivors.
With nothing particularly interesting going on, it’s hard not to notice how lame the entire concept is. This becomes abundantly clear by the last half-hour, portraying a showdown that would only be fit on a cheap sci-fi TV show. Dull, absurd and full of “Why did you do that!?” moments, The Darkest Hour is a concept that could’ve, but doesn’t, work.
By Liam Maguren, Flicks.co.nz
i thought it was awsome just a bit boring in some parts bu i acctually liked it
The Darkest Hour It started with a his an a roar, ok, more like a 'Days of Our Lives' thud, but this was only due to the charater build up, I felt it paid dividends later on. I cant help but feel aliens attacking earth has been done before, like hmmm, 'Predator', 'Cloverfield', 'Battlefield LA', 'Invasion of the Body Snatchers', 'V', 'Independce Day', 'Battlefield Earth', 'Cowboys and Aliens' the list goes on, realy it does. The age seemed close to that of 'Tomorrow when the War Begins' and the way the characters just fall into the story. Mostly the fights reminded me of 'Attack the Block' so kind of funny in a way. I kept waiting for a descent view of the alein. Genre : Sci-fi, Alien, fantasy,thiller, action, apocalyptic 2/5 : being generous, pop-corn flick and dont expect much story thickness, acting is the best part. Oh, also, see it in 3D, 2d just doesnt do it justice.
One day this will turn up on a cheap TV channel late at night and you will be drunk/over-tired and it will be a blast.
When the script switches genres, exchanging survival horror for resistance fighting, it loses whatever momentum it had.
The picture suffers from an oppressive ordinariness.
Another depressing failure of imagination.
A dreary sci-fi slog so tedious even its own actors seem bored.
We've been told the NZ release date for this flick is Thursday, 12th Jan 2012.
Release date: January 12th 2012.
We haven't received times for this movie in this location yet. However these are updated as cinemas announce them, so check back soon. Hopefully the lovely cinemas in your location will choose to play it shortly. ~Ed.
