It's no definitive masterpiece but it's damn close.

Fantastic!

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

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

FROM A PLACE OF DARKNESS is an attempt at an indie thriller all about snuff films and the dark descent of the main character as he investigates this sinister world. Thematically it's similar to the famous Nic Cage film 8MM of the 1990s but in terms of execution it's anything but. Instead what we have is a film which is quite tame and intellectual in scope, featuring a little gore and plenty of overriding gloom in the dark sets and characters. There's some chasing about but mostly this is an atmospheric mood piece that feels quite threadbare in terms of plot.

An aspiring film-maker finds a notorious snuff film director and begins interviewing him. His interest quickly turns to fascination and obsession, getting closer and closer to direct involvement in the productions, including cleaning up the bloody remains. But murder isn't the only thing to be worried about... the ghosts of the dead are turning up on film and will not suffer quietly.I entered this film with mixed expectations. The few reviews that had surfaced seemed to be polar opposites: one batch praised the film as one of the best unsung films, while the other accused the praisers of being a part of the crew and puffing up the film with false reviews and ratings. Needless to say, this left the impression in my mind that this might not be the best film I'd seen in a while. My fears were squashed, thankfully, within five minutes of putting in the disc. It's no surprise this movie was nominated for Best Feature, Best Screenplay, and Best Supporting Actor (John Savage)at the Terror Film Fest.Set to a heavy soundtrack, this film is packed with plenty of quality murder, and a chilling performance from veteran actor John Savage, playing the snuff director, Vic. As soon as he speaks, we're sucked in, perhaps horrified but also morbidly curious... murder for profit... on film? Tell us more, Vic.While not flawless by any means, this film shows a strong sense of vision and direction from director Doug Raine, and I expect we'll be seeing more of him and 110 in the Shade Productions. With an interesting third act with Bronson Pinchot (Cousin Balki from "Perfect Strangers", or "The Langoliers")... you must see this film.

The problem with this flick is the plot and dialogs.The beginning is strong, high impact. But about a third through the movie, the story gets confusing & repetitive. The end is unbelievable even in a comic strip.What saves the film is the acting: The actors deliver a credible performance. Savage is great as a creepy bad guy. Travis Schuldt is good as a tormented artist. And Pinchot falls easily as the slimy investor. The rest of the crew were OK.The movie had strong fundamentals, but the director could not build upon them. It is a pity, so much potential and talent wasted.

Had a chance to see this film at a screening. This is the kind of film that just plain creeps you out,and lingers with you. I can't even tell you how many times I had to look away. It's dark, suspenseful and shocking. The story is very thought provoked (yes you have to use your brain) the ending forces you to ask questions and the acting across the board is solid, especially Conor Duffy and Travis Schuldt, and as far as Savage goes well, he comes across in a way that I have not seen him in years, like he was made for the role. Can't wait to see it on BluRay as it should jump off the screen and make one go screaming even farther into the dark.