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Lights Out (2016).; You Were Right To Be Afraid Of The Dark.
Topic Started: Jun 24 2016, 05:34 PM (448 Views)
shiley740
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#TheAgeOfAquaria
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IMDB Blurb:
When Rebecca left home, she thought she left her childhood fears behind. Growing up, she was never really sure of what was & wasn't real when the lights went out...& now her little brother, Martin, is experiencing the same unexplained & terrifying events that had once tested her sanity & threatened her safety. A frightening entity with a mysterious attachment to their mother, Sophie, has reemerged. But this time, as Rebecca gets closer to unlocking the truth, there is no denying that all their lives are in danger...once the lights go out.




Decided 2 post this thread since the 2nd trailer premiered 2day, even tho I'm not particularly interested in this film, personally, esp. considering the 2nd trailer made this film feel as if it makes less sense than it did b4: if w/e tf this thing is used 2 be a little girl that currently has an attachment 2 her currently living bestie, y in the shit is she killing all these random ass ppl? Not 2 mention, y is she appearing 2 all these ppl in the 1st place when she could only be haunting this 1 bitch that clearly ain't got an issue w/ being haunted? I mean, sure, I'mma watch this movie anywho, so maybe it'll make sense then, but if even the trailer can't clarify that shit, how's the movie gonna do? :youlose:

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shiley740
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#TheAgeOfAquaria
Turning The Lights Out Offers Up Mixed Results
After viewing this film roughly an hr ago, this is a film I describe as 1 that works WAY better than it has any right 2. It's a PG-13, supernatural horror film about a malevolent entity using darkness as its method of terrorizing its would-be victims. It's an interesting recipe 4 disaster that multiple films in the past have shown how difficult it is 4 filmmakers 2 truly grasp the terror of being afraid of the dark (Don't Be Afraid of the Dark, both iterations; Darkness; Darkness Falls; Fear of the Dark...need I go on?). Somehow, however, David F. Sandberg single-handedly managed 2 restore my faith in short-2-screen adaptations & PG-13 horror as something that can still actually work (even if Krampus did help edge me out of my #RIsTheWay2Go closet). It wastes literally no time w/ its relatively simple plot that's accomplished in only 81 mins, laying everything out on the line 4 u almost immediately & speeding thru the typical horror beats while managing the difficult task of spectacularly lighting the film 2 remain foreboding & visible @ the same time (like the darkness is almost always creeping up on u, outside some of the daytime scenes), until it reaches its tense climax that never tries 2 get convoluted 4 the sake of running time (which is y I'm glad the original ending, following the last shot, was cut from the film, cuz it would've definitely taken away from the impact of the film by just falling in2 the trap of the #OneLastScare that this thankfully ended up having none of). It never feels like its over-staying its welcome or trying 2 hard, almost calculatedly placing scares in appropriate places as we watch these charries try 2 deal w/ this nearly unexplainable event w/out involving an unnecessary amount of canon fodder just there 2 disbelieve & die thereafter. Admittedly, I could've gone w/ a little less oversimplification of the backstory & other aspects of said backstory brought 2 light, becuz I still have some unanswered Qs, but, I assume the sequel will cover anything as far as that's concerned. Another thing that bothered me is the fact while these charries r actually smarter than ur typical crop of horror archetypes & feel as human as possible in the limited time that we get 2 know them, they never consider stocking up on that good shit (ie: lights, batteries, etc.), despite knowing the weakness of this bitch, so, it just seemed 2 be an ongoing issue of Sandberg oversimplifying the plot w/ both this & the backstory, but, I digress. I much prefer this simple approach instead of him trying 2 make the story in2 some extravagant, bloated mess, which is also y I'm probz in the minority when it comes 2 being relatively plzed w/ the way the film concludes, despite the problematic connotations associated w/ it. Much like Kevin had previously used The Babadook as an example of another film using horror as a metaphor 4 depression, I got the similarities loud & clear, but, unlike both of u who have shared ur disagreements w/ the way the film ends, I don't believe that this film was trying 2 paint those w/ depression negatively & I'm actually more offended by the way The Babadook handled it, becuz, as stated by director Jennifer Kent, she wanted 2 portray the "fear of going mad," realistic human relationships, & the troubles undergone throughout motherhood (which pmuch manifests itself in her repressed & crippling grief over the death of her husband...not depression, Kent literally never said anything about depression). As some1 who has/is personally suffered/suffering from depression (undiagnosed aside from my own personal research on the matter, but I think I can determine my mental state well enough when I'm the 1 feeling like utter shit), the way I viewed this depiction is that the "sacrifice" that occurs was Sophie's own belief that things would be fixed as long as she wasn't around screwing things up, because of the intertwining of those 2. Due 2 the fact that every1 else had abandoned her 1 way or another, outside the physical manifestation of her depression, she understandably turned back 2wards that, becuz it was familiar, it was briefly comforting, & it seemed safe, even if it was harming those around her. Even tho Rebecca expresses how willing she is 2 actually help her fight thru this, her condition worsened even more so & things escalated out of control, prompting Sophie 2 take action in the only way the film rly lined out how 2 do so becuz she thought it was the best course of action, no1 else in the film actually says so. The way I c it is that this is unfortunately something that happens 2 ppl w/ depression that I believe the metaphorical aspects of the film hit the nail on the head w/, alongside focusing primarily on the relationships of the charries over throwing in random irrelevant scares. These charries cared about how Sophie was suffering, but, sometimes, the 1 that's suffering doesn't care enough about themselves & think that them being out of the picture will help more than it will hurt. Where this showed the harsh reality of what can happen w/out a healthy environment filled w/ ppl willing 2 be there 2 pull u from the brink of the darkness that is depression, The Babadook just showed how living in denial over grief ur experiencing can drive u over the edge & that u have 2 come 2 terms w/ said grief the rest of ur life by recognizing it, instead of trying 2 push it away like some nonexistent monster. I'm not going 2 deny the similarities, but I firmly believe that this was the better film between the 2 & the better depiction of such, esp. when The Babadook just goes from a roaringly mad conclusion 2 peachy fucking keen w/in almost an instant (& I'm more than aware of how some1 can misinterpret what Sandberg was going 4 here cuz the person I watched this film w/ immediately jumped 2 wanting that "sacrifice" 2 happen #Facepalming4Days). 2 take a turn back 2 the review, tho, I'd like 2 address our malevolent bitch of the hr manifesting in this depression metaphor: Diana. 1 thing I believe that the marketing kinda failed @ doing that makes more sense w/ me having finally seen the film is that Diana is a spirit 1st & 4most that can exist in any plane, but is more or less an invisible specter in the light (that can still interact w/ a limited amount of objects) & only able 2 become physical in darkness (where her full range of powers r available & when she can be caught off guard & harmed by light becuz she still has some connection 2 the living world). This conclusion leads me 2 believe that there could be 1 of 2 directions that they could go in 4 the sequel (if it is actually a sequel & not a prequel in disguise like w/ Ouija: Origin of Evil briefly was): 1) Diana can now freely roam w/out a "connection" tethering her down (kind of like w/ Kayako in The Grudge remakes w/ the seal on her home destroyed) or 2) Diana has "gotten inside the head" of more than 1 person over the course of her existence (since the backstory indicated this not being the 1st time, who's 2 say there isn't some1 else around somewhere). Just some things I feel r worth consideration since Chris has almost been dead-set against the possibility of a sequel, even tho there's a pretty simple way 2 follow-up w/ 1 (even if the metaphorical aspect would almost most-definitely be lost along the way unless Sandberg managed 2 blend the 2 2gether seamlessly again). In closing, becuz this has gone on 4 FAR 2 long already, it's 1 of the better films I've seen this yr (which, Ik isn't saying much w/ the mixed crop of films releasing this yr) & it genuinely surprised me w/ how much it managed 2 accomplish w/ damn near everything working against it. I give it 7 & 1/2 terribly CGI'ed spooky face reveals that r thankfully short enough 2 not leave a lasting impression outta 10. I wouldn't recommend rushing 2 the theater like my impatient ass decided 2 debatably do, but, when it hits home, I think this will be an enjoyable watch 4 most, even if on the underwhelming side becuz of the handling of the material & the limited scares.

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shiley740
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#TheAgeOfAquaria
The fact Brian De Palma is apparently releasing a movie of the same name next yr & IMDB has the trailer 4 this listed on its page :flurbily:

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Shawn
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Pray for mercy from Puss... in boots.
I can't believe I watched this and that it was actually pretty good.
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shiley740
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Shawn
Mar 19 2017, 02:12 AM
I can't believe I watched this and that it was actually pretty good.
jhgfdffg I TOLD Y'ALL IT WORKED BETTER THAN IT HAD ANY RIGHT 2!
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Shawn
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Pray for mercy from Puss... in boots.
shiley740
Mar 19 2017, 12:06 PM
Shawn
Mar 19 2017, 02:12 AM
I can't believe I watched this and that it was actually pretty good.
jhgfdffg I TOLD Y'ALL IT WORKED BETTER THAN IT HAD ANY RIGHT 2!
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I couldn't believe that they actually came up with an interesting story and a unique villain too, but the best thing was that it didn't waste time and kept it short at 80 minutes. I'm definitely excited about a sequel especially with the same writer/director and like you had said there are several easy ways to accomplish it.
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shiley740
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#TheAgeOfAquaria
Shawn
Mar 19 2017, 05:08 PM
shiley740
Mar 19 2017, 12:06 PM
Shawn
Mar 19 2017, 02:12 AM
I can't believe I watched this and that it was actually pretty good.
jhgfdffg I TOLD Y'ALL IT WORKED BETTER THAN IT HAD ANY RIGHT 2!
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I couldn't believe that they actually came up with an interesting story and a unique villain too, but the best thing was that it didn't waste time and kept it short at 80 minutes. I'm definitely excited about a sequel especially with the same writer/director and like you had said there are several easy ways to accomplish it.
YES! THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKIN BOUT! MOVIES THAT CAN GET THEIR SHIT ACROSS IN THE SHORTEST AMOUNT OF TIME POSSIBLE & FEEL LIKE UTTER BOPS IN THE PROCESS >>>>XINFINITY THAT'S Y I'MMA NEED SANDBERG 2 BRING HIS ASS BACK AROUND 2 LET MISS DIANA SNATCH ME BALD AGAIN!!!
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Callie
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A.K.A Sorority Biatch
wow i'm shook at this actually being good

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shiley740
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Living_Bread
Mar 19 2017, 06:22 PM
wow i'm shook at this actually being good
Guess u should've listened 2 what I had 2 say. Posted Image

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Callie
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A.K.A Sorority Biatch
if only the poster was good </3

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Shawn
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Pray for mercy from Puss... in boots.
Just rewatched it and it held up really well, still really creepy even with knowing where all the scares were. Definitely something I'm going to buy when it goes on sale.
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