![]() ![]() I give "Lights Out" (2013) a very good 8 out of 10. It's filled to burst with atmospheric tension and heart- stopping suspense, and there's a good chance that after watching it alone in the dark, you'll go digging through the closet or the attic, desperately searching for that old night light from when you were a child that you haven't used in years. Still, these are only minor flaws in an otherwise incredibly strong and stylish short. It was not quite enough of a payoff, ending with more of a whimper than a scream. I also did find the climactic moments (which I will not spoil) to be a tad underwhelming. ![]() Once you've seen it, you've wised up to the game, and thus it will never have that same impact on subsequent viewings. I did find that it lacks rewatchability due to its very short running time that is built around a singular sequence. The short is not without a collection of flaws however, mild though they may be in the grand scheme of things. ![]() It's refreshing to see a new filmmaker who knows to take just enough time before he strikes. This is especially admirable in today's modern world of horror, where jumps without establishment and loud noises without atmosphere are taking over at a very alarming rate. It knows just how long to take to allow the fear to grow to a boiling point and when to nail us with the scares and jumps. It's very deliberate and cleverly uses its time wisely, neither stringing out the short longer than it needs to be or needlessly abbreviating it. A prime example of how to appropriately build an increasing and all- encompassing sense of dread, the short is amongst the strongest I've seen in recent memory. As tensions build, and the woman's fear grows, we swiftly move towards a startling and wickedly eerie climax. A figure that is seemingly staring right at her, waiting to strike. We follow a young woman (Lotta Losten, actress and wife of director Sandberg) preparing to retire to bed for the night, when she notices a mysterious silhouette in the distance whenever she turns off her hallway light. Growing up, she was never really sure of what was and wasnt real when the lights. Lacking any complex narrative or proper character development, it instead uses its short running length and lack of dialog to build a highly effective and chilling sequence of terror through only expert use of lighting, suggestive camera angles and moody visuals. When Rebecca left home, she thought she left her childhood fears behind. "Lights Out" (2013) is at its core a very simplistic and elegant style experiment in fear. A short film that of course went on to become the basis of this bonafide new hit. Back to 2013, when Sandberg unleashed a short-film of the same name onto the masses. Sandberg has been tapped to helm the anticipated in-the-works sequel "Annabelle 2." But lets take a look back just a few short years to the humble beginnings of this project. So much so in fact that a sequel is already well on the way, and its up-and-coming director David F. audiences were hooked by its clever scares, solid visuals and competent atmosphere building. "Lights Out" became a massive hit with its high-concept of a vengeful spirit that exists within shadows and darkness. There are more movies at the Feo Amante Theater.Just a few short months ago, a fairly tense and exciting low-budget feature was released in theaters. Oh, and as for that face? This is how he did it. Making someone jump at an ear banging noise isn't scary, it just pisses people off. In fact, people go so far, so often, in trying to talk themselves out of their fear of almost certain danger, that Insurance companies and Police Departments have put out pamphlets, put up billboards, and television ads, all basically saying, "If you come home to find your door is open - Don't Go In!"Įxtra kudos to David for not going for the cheat-cheap and irritating loud noise. Sometimes that works, and sometimes it doesn't. Whenever we're afraid, we all try and talk ourselves out of the fear. Blanket over her head - she tries to talk herself out of being afraid. One in which the protagonist ( played with shivery believability by Lotta Losten), otherwise secure in her high-rise but mundane home, finds herself blocked from her apartment's only escape, the door, by Some Thing. At just a little over 2 minutes, LIGHTS OUT is a combination of frights & fun-style Horror. You might be talking about Writer and Director, David F. ![]() "This Ray Bradbury-esque is one of the most memorable and one of the more original stories I've read in a long time."īe sure to watch this full screen using decent speakers or headphones.Ī woman is about to go to bed, but when she turns the lights out, someone or something is in the house. "'Willow Blue' will burrow under your skin and stay there long after you've put the book down." ![]()
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