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By Mike Porciello
"It's a small world after
all", as the Disney song goes.
The movie opens up on a dirt road, with a young disheveled boy, wandering
aimlessly in search of................ Cut to an insane asylum, where a
hallucinogenic, peculiar man (Reed Diamond) is being administered a new
experimental drug by Dr. Alden (Halloween 4 and 5's Ellie Cornell).
"The Man" begins to unravel the mystery of his past, and we get
to the meat and potatoes of the movie.
Stanley (Shawn Pyfrom of Desperate Housewives fame), a nerdy, unassuming
adolescent meets this odd man, and the two form an immediate bond. Lucy
Lawless plays Cheryl, Stanley's alcoholic, inept mother, under the
complete control of Bob, her professional 9 to 5 husband, Stanley's
stepfather. The movie then begins to take a rather odd, and quite
interesting turn, shall I say, reminiscent of the likes of "The 6th
Sense".
Bob, we find out, lives a double life, has a penchant for the perverse,
and keeps a darkroom in the house, where he develops all of his pictures;
photography being "one" of his hobbies. Stanley, and the man
each travel the same path to the spiritual journey each is seeking closure
for, and the climax takes place at the cabin, a place where Stanley and
family summered many a year back. The Man helps Stanley to conquer his
fears, and Stanley helps the man find the answers to his past, as the two
share a common link. The rest is yours to watch, decipher, and enjoy! The
ending may leave some in tears.
This movie, I give 8 out of ten bullets. "The Darkroom" has it
all. Good acting, Suspense, Gore, Horror, and an independent feel with a
big time attitude and feel! In my opinion, if this movie had received a
larger release, it would have been a blockbuster. Finally, "The
Darkroom" although Rated R (we do see a topless Lucy Lawless) may not
be suitable for young children, young teens?, I wouldn't say it poses a
problem.
Watch it, you'll enjoy it!
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