A Dark Song Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A grieving mom rents a haunted Airbnb with a sketchy magician to summon her guardian angel, but mostly summons questionable life choices and existential dread.

🍿 A Dark Song: Detailed Plot Synopsis

A Mother’s Grief and a Desperate Plan

Sophia Howard, haunted by the violent death of her young son, is consumed by grief and a thirst for justice. Unable to find solace in conventional means, she seeks out Joseph Solomon, an occultist with a reputation for performing dangerous rituals. Sophia’s intent is to perform a complex ceremony to contact her son’s spirit and exact revenge on his killers.

The Abramelin Operation: Preparation and Ritual

Sophia hires Solomon and rents a remote house in the Welsh countryside. Solomon guides her through the Abramelin Operation, a rigorous and demanding ritual that requires months of preparation, purification, and intense focus. The ritual involves complex diagrams, incantations, and various occult practices designed to cleanse Sophia’s soul and open a gateway to the spiritual realm. Their lives become consumed by the ritual’s demands, pushing them both to their physical and emotional limits.

Psychological and Supernatural Torment

As the ritual progresses, Sophia and Solomon experience a series of increasingly disturbing phenomena. They face psychological torment, physical exhaustion, and unsettling visions. Solomon begins to question Sophia’s true motives, suspecting she may be hiding something. The line between reality and hallucination blurs, testing their sanity and their commitment to the ritual.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Sophia (Catherine Walker): A determined young woman haunted by the murder of her son, willing to risk everything to perform a dangerous ritual.
• Joseph Solomon (Steve Oram): A damaged and dubious occultist hired to guide Sophia through a complex and potentially deadly ritual.
• Victoria (Susan Loughnane): The young woman who rents Sophia the home.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Joseph Solomon: “You’ve been lookin’ shit up on the internet? No, really this is – Gnosticism.” – Solomon explains the basis of the ritual to Sophia, dismissing her simplistic understanding.
• Joseph Solomon: “It’s there as grammar. A structure. The Kabbalah’s an exploration o’ God. We’re doing something much darker.” – Solomon elaborates on the true nature of the ritual, emphasizing its darker purpose.

💰Box Office

• Budget: N/A
• Domestic Gross: N/A
• Worldwide Gross: $23,742

💥 A Dark Song Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, so I went into this movie expecting jump scares and monsters, but it’s way more psychological. I was gripped from the start. Catherine Walker’s performance is incredible – you really feel her desperation. The ritual scenes were intense, and I found myself questioning everything. There were a few moments that gave me genuine chills, but the ending was unexpected and ultimately moving, even though it wasn’t traditionally ‘horror’. Definitely worth a watch if you’re into slow-burn, atmospheric films that mess with your head.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of slow-burn horror”
  • “Viewers interested in occult themes”
  • “Those who appreciate psychological thrillers”
  • “People who enjoy movies with strong character development”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Strong language”
  • “Disturbing images”
  • “Occult themes”
  • “Violence”
  • “Drug use”

Professional Reviews

• Variety: “A Dark Song weaves a haunting, claustrophobic tale of grief and the occult. Walker and Oram deliver powerful performances, capturing the intensity of their characters’ desperate journeys. The film’s atmospheric tension and commitment to ritualistic detail create a truly unsettling experience.
• The Hollywood Reporter: “While A Dark Song may test the patience of some, it offers a compelling character study amidst its occult trappings. The film’s strength lies in its exploration of grief and the lengths people will go to find solace, even if it means facing the darkness.
• Roger Ebert: “The film succeeds in creating an atmosphere of tension and unease through its austere visuals and unsettling sound design. However, its deliberate pace and ambiguous narrative may leave some viewers frustrated.

Audience Reactions

The intense and realistic portrayal of occult rituals made the movie stand out.: Viewers appreciated the slow-burn tension and the focus on character development over cheap scares.

The performances of Catherine Walker and Steve Oram were captivating and emotionally resonant.: Many praised the film’s atmosphere and the way it built suspense through sound and visuals.

Overall Consensus: A Dark Song is a slow-burn, atmospheric horror film that focuses on character study and psychological tension. While not for everyone, those who appreciate well-acted, thought-provoking stories with occult themes will find it rewarding.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The ritual performed in the movie is the Abramelin Operation, an occult rite attempted by gnostics such as Aleister Crowley.”
• “The film was shot in Dublin, Ireland, adding to its eerie atmosphere.”

🖥️ How to Watch A Dark Song?

A Dark Song is available to rent or purchase on various platforms including Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Check your local listings for availability, as streaming options may vary by region. Physical copies (DVD/Blu-ray) are also available for purchase online and at retailers.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed A Dark Song, you might like these similar films:

• The Autopsy of Jane Doe (2016): Both films create horror through a confined space and two strong personalities dealing with supernatural elements.
• The Witch (2015): Explores similar themes of isolation, religious extremism, and the dark side of faith with a slow-burn approach.
• Kill List (2011): Shares a similar unsettling atmosphere and descent into ritualistic violence.

🛒 A Dark Song Related Products

• The Book of Abramelin: A New Translation: A new translation of the actual grimoire that inspired the ritual from the movie. Explore the real-world occult practices that inform the film’s storyline.
• Occult Tarot Deck by Travis McHenry: Explore the hidden meanings and symbolism behind the occult with this tarot deck. Includes stunning artwork and informative guidebook that provides insight.
• A Dark Song [Blu-ray]: Own the film on Blu-ray to fully appreciate its atmospheric cinematography and unsettling sound design. Includes behind-the-scenes footage and interviews.
• Ritual Candles Set – Black and White: Set of black and white ritual candles for ambiance and atmosphere. Hand-poured, natural wax with long burn time.

🎧 Soundtrack

A Dark Song features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “A Dark Song Main Theme” – performed by Ray Harman
• “The Cleansing” – performed by Ray Harman
• “The Circle” – performed by Ray Harman

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

A Dark Song interview: Catherine Walker

Ever wondered what it’s *really* like to star in a film as intense as ‘A Dark Song’? Catherine Walker dives deep into her role, and honestly, her perspective is super insightful and made me appreciate the film even more!

✨ Rate