The alien science fiction sub-genre has been around since the forties when the Roswell UFO crash and cover up took hold of headlines in 1942. Since then films about aliens from outer space visiting our planet have been the focus of many films. Some came in peace, while others came for war. The last few alien invasion films have had to be developed around more complex stories as to why the invaders from outer space would want to attack us. Genius Stephen Hawkins developed many ideas as to how and why aliens would attack earth and compared it to when Europeans came to America and dealt with the Indians. As we know that did not turn out so well, and most likely if aliens were to not come in peace, that would be the outcome of a full scale invasion.
The Darkest Hour is another one of those alien invasion films that takes a play at Stephen Hawkins theories. The aliens in this film use a stealth technology to make them invisible to our eyes and designate any human being they come in contact with. The reason why they are invading earth is simple, they want our resources. Iron, gold, and other minerals. They are here to mine our planet, kill us and take all the earth has to offer so they can move onto another mineral rich planet. However they have one weakness in which our young characters exploit, the aliens can easily be detected when they pass in front of any kind of light source. Any light within a few yards will light up giving away the aliens position. However, the characters also find out that the alien cloaks can also be destroyed with a microwave transmitter and expose the alien inside them. As a team our American characters, stuck in Moscow ban together with a group of Russian freedom fighters as they make their way though the city to find a Russian sub docked in one of the rivers. The technology they have is the key to helping the world fight the invaders and take our planet back.
The film is slow at times but one thing it has going for it is its suspense and reality based feel. None of the characters in this film are safe and death is around every corner. It has that same effect on the human psyche as the remake of World of the Wars did. Every second of this film had my mind turning and had me asking myself what I would do if I was in a situation like this.
The films script is decent and the story is simple and effective. Some of the characters are basic and not greatly developed. None of them really stand out as great characters that an audience might care for. Like I mentioned above they are all expendable. The film has some great visual effects for the most part. When the aliens are revealed however, they look like what you would expect for a mid budget science fiction film. The CGI is apparent; however the good thing is we don’t see much of them.
The special edition Blu-ray disc has a few special features such as the short film The Darkest Hour: Survivors. There us also a featurettes titled The Darkest Hour: Visualizing an Invasion, as well as Deleted and Extended Scenes and Audio Commentary.
Overall, The Darkest Hour is a decent alien invasion film that works. It was a film that was made on a mid-level budget with no big names attached. It had very little media exposure and actually hit theaters around Christmas of last year. If you are not a big movie fan you probably missed this one in theaters. However, if you are into alien invasion films such as War of the Worlds, Independence Day and Battle: Los Angles; I’m sure you will enjoy The Darkest Hour and recommend checking it out.
– Horror Bob
- Interview with J.R. Bookwalter - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Andrew J. Rausch - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Rick Popko and Dan West - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Director Stevan Mena (Malevolence) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Screenwriter Jeffery Reddick (Day of the Dead 2007) - January 22, 2015
- Teleconference interview with Mick Garris (Masters of Horror) - January 22, 2015
- A Day at the Morgue with Corri English (Unrest) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Writer/Director Nacho Cerda (The Abandoned, Aftermath) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actress Thora Birch (Dark Corners, The Hole, American Beauty) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actor Jason Behr, Plus Skinwalkers Press Coverage - January 22, 2015
