Releae: Darkness

 

Darkness

Genre: Sci-Fi/Suspense

Director: Osgood Perkins

Writer: Jack Slipter

Cast: Maika Monroe, Camila Mendes, Cara Buono, Lizzy Greene

Budget: $15,000,000

Domestic Box Office: $18,402,990

Foreign Box Office: $24,913,184

Total Profit: $20,700,400

Reaction: Not a huge hit, but decent profits for writer Jack Slipter's first credit since Season 27's Detroit: Become Human.

"A slight change of pace for LRF's king of horror! While not an out-and-out horror film, Jack still brings in the shocks and surprises in Darkness. It's not a perfect film, it drags a little in the middle, and I'm not entirely sure why it was labeled a "sci-fi" film, but it's still got a great punch and judging from the ending, one that looks to have franchise worthy potential." - Mitchell Parker, New York Times

"Darkness is an atmospheric, nerve-wracking thriller that thrives on its central concept and minimalist execution. Oz Perkins leans heavily into tension and sensory dread, while Maika Monroe delivers a compelling performance, grounding the film emotionally while the shadow creatures remain effectively mysterious. It’s not always narratively tight, but its mood and concept carry it far." - Michael Carthage, Associated Press

"While Darkness has a strong premise, it struggles to build a cohesive story around it. The film leans so heavily on atmosphere and repetition that character development and narrative progression often feel secondary. The rules surrounding the creatures remain frustratingly vague, and several sequences begin to blur together. Monroe does solid work, but the film’s reliance on mood over clarity ultimately limits its impact." - Shawn Moseby, Fresno Bee

Rated R for strong terror, violence, and some disturbing images.