A Dark Song

It is, in fact, an instant classic, the sort of film that will make you check under your bed at night and then amplify into terror the midnight creaks and 3am breezes that unsettle every house at times, most especially yours. Highly recommended.

With the scares stealthy, Gavin’s parable draws power from the heart’s shadows: the climax may alienate some, but its audacity is earned.

The movie dives into the black arts with methodical restraint and escalating unease.

A Dark Song digs its claws in and never lets go, finding horror in rituals, personal reflection and burning black-magic sensations. It’s dreadfully inviting from start to finish, with an almighty climax at just the right time.

The performances are strong and the scenecraft absorbing.

The two leads are resolute soldiers about it all, but they’re dutifully edgy elements in a stylist’s frame instead of fully realized characters living out what is supposed to be the riskiest time of their lives.

The dark as it gets! It was too slow, one of those films that tests your patience. Not your regular horror flick, but the ingredient was little different than the usual for such theme. A limited cast film and most of the story takes place in an isolated mansion somewhere in Ireland. Where the two people assemble to do some kind of ritual to open the door for the dark force, as well as opposite to that with a reason. Very challenging attempt, had to go through many troubles in the process. But how it all turns out, whether they achieve what they were planning for is what takes us to the final stage where it comes to end with a tiny twist. This is an independent Irish film. Feature film debut for the director. I don't recognise any of two actors, but they were good. Under a small cost, the film had a better quality. Well created atmosphere, the suspense kept the narration to go all way to the finale. Except the opening, the following parts lagged in any kind of development, but once the final act had begun, the scenario had changed and favoured to end high. I would say, that's what saved this film. Otherwise, I was getting ready to bash it. Yet not the best ending, an acceptable one regarding earlier section of the narration. So a decent film, that can be watched once. 6/10

Some critics had made me believe this was actually a pretty good film but the truth is that beyond the interesting premise, the narrative is too slow and is only handled as small and disordered bricks building a climax and a conclusion that fails to feel satisfactory. I honestly expected more.

A Dark Song has a really interesting concept, two people embark on a journey using dark magic and rituals in order to get what they both want. As a person who really likes additional details and mechanics on how these things worked, what really kept me hooked was the contant explanation of what they were doing and why. Unfortunately, that doesn't really help the move. It's fairly slow paced, it takes a long time to lead up to anywhere and by the time you get to the end of the film, you are just left feeling empty. All that build up and then the movie just kind of poops the bed.

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]