Lights Out Review: Be Afraid of the Dark

Director: David F. Sandberg

Cast: Teresa Palmer, Mario Bello, Billy Burke, Alicia Vela-Bailey, Emily Alyn Lind, Gabriel Bateman

Rating: 15

Running Time: 81 mins

Release Date: August 19th, 2016

A genuinely tense and interesting premise gives LIGHTS OUT short film origins enough energy to shock and scare but shine a light on the film itself and it nearly collapses under a feature length run time.

David F. Sandberg originated his premise f’or LIGHTS OUT as a short film, crafting a fun but tense three minute short. Racking up a couple of million views, it wasn’t long before it caught the attention of studios, and Warner Bros came in to help turn the idea into a feature film. Allowing for some inventive set pieces that let Sandberg mess around with light and dark. Unfortunately the longer run time means an expanded story, something which becomes problematic for the film. The eventual investigation into what exactly is haunting our protagonists, Rebecca (Teresa Palmer), her brother Martin (Gabriel Bateman) and their mother Sophie (Maria Bello) is less than satisfying, with the film concocting a rather silly backstory for the entity, named Diana, that has been attacking them. Even more off putting is the ending of the film, a conclusion that would be problematic in not only its abruptness but its implicit message to the audience – without straying into spoiler territory, the ending simplifies a solution that has severe repercussions and glosses over the action itself, not to mention the real world implication as well.

Besides its messy final act, the film is an enjoyable jump scare roller coaster, with some stand out set pieces. Its a testament to the uniqueness and idea of the story that Sandberg is able to craft well designed scares from simple things; particular stand outs is a neon sign situated outside Rebeccas’ room that clicks on and off every 10 seconds, an opening scene where Billy Burke avoids being killed in a hallway covered in spotlights and patches of darkness and finally a tense exploration of a basement with just a UV light for a guide. It’s a fun, end of summer horror where the audience knows exactly whats about to happen (the nervous laughter that broke out whenever a jump scare was imminent was infectious) but every single scare still landed, thanks to Sandbergs’ ability to build tension.

The cast is dependable and pleasant to watch as they get scared left and right, only Maria Bello being wasted in a role that consists mainly of her screaming, a talented actress who should have been given more material to play with. Alexander DiPersia stands out as Rebeccas’ kind of boyfriend, he brings some much needed humor to the story that helps ease the tension at times and helps deflate the suspense between the scares. Also the characters are written and performed well enough that you care what happens to them, in some horror films the role of the boyfriend, or in Gabriel Batemans case the kid brother, could become annoying and grating but both actors are able to be likable and sympathetic.

While suffering from a silly plot and a creature that is scary until the film reveals too much of it, LIGHTS OUT is enjoyable jump scare fodder, helped by a talented director and a reliable cast.

Verdict 

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