This week we’re headed into alien territory. Is there anything scarier than the thought that there may be a superior race of intergalactic beings walking amoung us, choosing people to abduct and there is nothing we would be able to do to stop them? Probably not.
Dark Skies follows an average American family who are dealing with strange occurrences that have started happening around their home. Everything seems to be easily explained away the first couple times, like the open fridge and mess of food all over the floor could just be a stray animal that got into the house. All the sensors of the alarm system being tripped at the same time is a system malfunction, but the more these things happen the more undeniable it is that there is something else going on.
Arthur C. Clarke‘s quote, “Two possibilities exist: either we are alone in the Universe or we are not. Both are equally terrifying,’opens the film; it really sets the mood and makes the audience think about those two possibilities. The whole movie plays with these ideas and makes you really consider the implications. It’s one of those thing where the more you think about it, the more terrifying it is. And then before you know it, you’re a self-proclaimed Fox Mulder.
This movie does have some typical horror movie cliches and it isn’t the most innovative or original concept but what it does bring to the table is great acting (Keri Russell is a real standout here), a very creepy atmosphere and some good quality jumps and scares. The family dynamic is also very well done. I love how the brothers talk on their walkie talkies at night but they still make fun of each other and tease each other at other times. As someone with a younger brother that I love to death, I know how much you want to throttle your siblings sometimes, especially when you’re younger and everything they do seems to be with the sole intention of ruining your life. It’s the mentality that you can screw with your sibling as much as you want but as soon as someone else does, you’re ready to rumble.
In regards to the “aliens amoung us” genre, this one is a really good addition. It’s a difficult genre to do well without it coming across as overly paranoid but this movie treads that line pretty well. If this genre is something that you’re even slightly interested in, you won’t be disappointed with Dark Skies. It’s a good movie with a surprise appearance by J.K. Simmons as the ” crazy expert” (I told you there were cliches) and it certainly delivers on the creepy factor. Give it a watch tonight.