The next movie in our Halloween 2021 challenge is Lights Out. This review is a day late due to DC FanDome yesterday. However, two reviews are coming to make up for it. Ironically, the director Lights Out was at DC FanDome with a look at his next movie Shazam: Fury of the Gods.
Lights Out is directed by David F. Sandberg and is adapted from his short movie of the same name. It stars Teresa Palmer, Gabriel Bateman, Maria Bello and Alexander DiPersia. There’s even a cameo from Lotta Losten, star of the original short and wife to David F. Sandberg.
Lights Out is about a family plagued by something inhuman. Rebecca (Palmer) doesn’t live with her mother or half-brother and as the story progresses we realise why. Meanwhile, Martin (Bateman) has to listen to his mother talk to herself, or so he thinks, at night.
When his father dies, matters only get worse. Ultimately, the movie is about family and coming together in a crisis. The mother, Sophie (Bello) believes her childhood friend is still alive and is always with her.
The scary factor comes from the title itself. As long as the lights are on, the characters safe. But, once it’s lights out, nobody is safe from the presence of Diana. This gives the creative team a playground of opportunities to use several light sources.
One of my favorite usages involves a car. Another is a flickering neon sign that will haunt your nightmares for a long time. I always say a horror movie is only as good as its characters, especially one about family. That’s why I recommend Lights Out.
The characters are real. You root for them, you hate them, you love them. Every emotion available will happen throughout the 81-minute movie. In the end, you’ll be lucky to sleep in the dark ever again.
For what is a random noise in the dark, if it’s not a demonic presence coming to get you?
