Sorry, this movie sucks

Absolutely brilliant

Great example of an old-fashioned, pure-at-heart escapist event movie that doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not and has boat loads of fun being its own ludicrous self.

It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

A young woman kills three people in a car accident, apparently after drinking too much alcohol. She is injured quite badly herself, including no doubt psychologically. A crime of this nature warrants punishment, but someone is intent on seeing she is not simply punished but tortured, psychologically and physically. She is lured to an out of the way mansion on the pretext of a modelling assignment, but once there she is held captive and subjected to nightmarish treatment by a trio of religious fanatics, well, a duo and the weak member of this perverted family.She is not the only one, two other girls are murdered. This film is disjointed, with flashbacks to the accident, but has no real plot except sadism for its own sake.

had decent expectations going into this one but was disappointed. The premise is interesting, and was sort of expecting a Saw vibe but yeah not here. The worst part is the main problems are things that could of easily been fixed before the camera started rolling. The script wasn't that great to begin with, good job from some of the actors to make the most of what they were working with. The decision working in flashbacks was a really bad one, and making the decision to provide no relatable or redeeming qualities for the main protagonist doesn't help. Everything just feels flat. The good - some of the actors showed some skills working with the limited material they were given. I wish they would of fleshed out the main protagonist more. The cinematography was actually really good for the most part, which makes the errors so much worse since they really could of had a much better film. The sound and effects were pretty good to. Really this film serves as a great example of why you should measure twice and cut once, because with better pre-production and better decision making this could of been a much better film.

Darkroom (There Are No Links to Purchase this movie on DVD).This was written by two-time writer Michaelbrent Collings, and directed by Britt Napier. This was Napier's debut as a director. The cast consists of Britne Oldford as Jean, Christian Campbell as Larry, Tobias Segal as Daniel, Elisabeth Rohm as Rachal, and stars Kaylee Defer as Michelle -- whom I loved in Red State.The pros about this film. There are many. The quality of filming is outstanding. The scenes are tight, and dramatic. The dark and light contrast works. The video footage is done well. The acting by each of those listed above, very well done. And this is rare in horror films. But I applaud all performances. The director did a great job of telling the story. The story, sick and twisted, and pretty solid.The cons. I wish there weren't any. I really wanted to like this film. But over all, I didn't really care either way. And for me the issue came down to pacing. In Darkroom, Michelle is locked away in an institution for being wasted while driving and causing an accident that killed three of her friends. Her counselor, Rachel, wants to help -- but if Michelle won't open up about the past, then she doesn't see Michelle getting released any time soon. Jean, on the other hand, is new to the group, and due to full participation, is quickly released. This upsets Michelle. Rachel helps those in the institution by getting them work with a "friend." The giant mansion is a photo studio for models. Only it's really a torture asylum for those who sin and refuse to repent. Run by a sick family of siblings (Larry, Daniel and surprise-surprise Rachel), they lock women in the basement and convince them that confessing and admitting sin is the only way to forgiveness and salvation. There is still no escape, but at least you can die knowing you are now right with God.Trapped in a basement room with a television (to watch the horrors unfold against other sinners) Michelle realizes that she ... and Jean, are in a lot of trouble. The only trouble is, pacing. It is 24 minutes into this short 81 minute movie before anything "really" happens, and even once it does start happening there is a viewer-disconnect. I didn't feel any sense of ... urgency on behalf of anyone in the film. Neither to torture, or escape . . . Again, the actors did a great job. I think the writing and directing were good, too. There just seemed to be something lacking.There is plenty of violence. A lot of use of drills, box cutters and wrenches. There is partial nudity, and some "bad" language. All in all, I can only give Darkroom 3 out of 5 Tombstones.http://www.philliptomasso.com/

Michelle was in an accident. This damages all her attempts at drug rehabilitation. To get out of the program, she needs to get Rachel's approval. She's lost her school aid due to the court orders, and her job prospects are dim. Rachel gives her an assignment, which is at a huge, for-sale house doing modeling. Amazing. Why would anyone give so much help to this loser-with-repellent-attitude? She's not attractive, she has a bad smoker's rasp, and various wounds on her body. Model? Seriously?Rachel tries to get her to own up to her part in the driving accident in a group therapy session. This is more or less at the heart of the film. Michelle does not want to accept responsibility. She was driving, the three people with her were killed, but somehow it was not her fault.So many flashbacks, so many irritations. This story is short, and should be told linearly.At the photo shoot, she gets a costume for the gig, and directions to the first filming location. But no one is there.By this time, I'm rooting for Michelle to get a one-way ticket out of the movie. She adds little, but is repellent and irritating.At one point, her captors put some food under the door of her holding cell. Rather than eating for strength, the pouting idiot throws the food against the door. This harms her foes not one bit, but does mess up her already nasty cell. Hours later, a slight lesson is learned, and she cooperates a bit for food.Of course, cooperation does not do her any good in the end. Her captors are siblings whose obsessions make them play out the nightmares of their youth with their abusive mother. Michelle is only a side prop.Will she get out alive? Let's hope not. The thought of a sequel is scarier than the entire movie. ------Scores--------Cinematography: 8/10 Not too bad; some weak light and soft focus, though.Sound: 2/10 Had to listen to Michelle's terrible voice. Incidental music was not a plus during the movie itself.Acting: 1/10 I like Elisabeth Roehm, and was sorry to see her in this mess. Even so, this was not one of her better performances. Kaylee DeFer, on the other hand, was simply terrible. Christian Campbell was wretched. Tobias Segal was worthless.Screenplay: 1/10 Why do I have to listen to this ugly woman's ugly voice? A woman with neutral looks and a routine sort of voice (just about anyone) would have drawn more sympathy, which would have given the film more depth. But no, this harsh, useless, foul-mouthed, unrepentant, murdering scumbag is what everyone has to experience. So the conclusion I get from this dubious casting is that the director wanted the audience to hate the protagonist from the get-go, and greet whatever is done to her with glee. The back story of the siblings was convenient as well. So, let the slashing begin. The ending was incredibly weak.