The Darkness Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Family vacation souvenir brings the apocalypse home; rocks were cheaper.

🍿 The Darkness: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Family Vacation and Discovery

The Taylor family, consisting of Peter, Bronny, Stephanie, and Mikey, embark on a vacation to the Grand Canyon. Mikey, who is autistic, wanders off and discovers a hidden cavern. Inside, he finds five unusual stones with glyphs and secretly takes them home. This sets off a chain of supernatural events that plague the family.

Unexplained Occurrences and Family Turmoil

Back home, strange occurrences begin: faucets turn on by themselves, shadows appear, and black handprints materialize on walls. These events coincide with increasing tension within the family. Bronny battles alcoholism, Stephanie struggles with bulimia, and Peter faces temptations at work, leading to suspicion and conflict. Mikey’s behavior becomes more erratic, and he claims to have a new ‘friend’ named Jenny.

Seeking Help and Confronting the Darkness

As the supernatural activity escalates, Bronny researches the stones and discovers their connection to ancient Anasazi beliefs about trapped demons. She learns that these demons latch onto children and amplify existing family problems. The family seeks help from Teresa, a spiritual healer, who attempts to cleanse the house. However, the demons prove powerful, creating a portal in Mikey’s room.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Peter Taylor (Kevin Bacon): A workaholic father and husband with a history of infidelity, who must confront a supernatural threat to save his family.
• Bronny Taylor (Radha Mitchell): The Taylor family’s struggling alcoholic mother is haunted by her husband’s past mistakes and must face the dark forces endangering her family.
• Michael Taylor (David Mazouz): An autistic young boy who unwittingly brings a malevolent supernatural force home after discovering cursed rocks during a family vacation.
• Stephanie Taylor (Lucy Fry): The Taylor’s teenage daughter is struggling with bulimia while also targeted by the evil spirits.
• Gary Carter (Matt Walsh): Peter’s friend, whose family accompanies the Taylors on their ill-fated trip to the Grand Canyon.
• Joy Carter (Jennifer Morrison): Gary’s wife, friend of the Taylors, who goes on the trip to Grand Canyon.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Stephanie Taylor: “We never talk about him, we never talk about how he affects all of us… it’s getting creepier and creepier.” – Stephanie expresses her frustration with the family’s inability to address Mikey’s issues and the strange occurrences.
• Stephanie Taylor: “Will you tell Michael to stay out of my room… he keeps leaving dirty hand prints everywhere.” – Stephanie complains about Mikey’s disturbing behavior and the unsettling handprints appearing in her personal space.
• Peter Taylor: “The God you might be familiar with cannot help you now.” – A Native American spiritualist warns the family that traditional religious beliefs may not be sufficient to combat the ancient evil.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $4,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $10,753,574
• Worldwide Gross: $10,898,293

💥 The Darkness Reviews

Personal Review

I wanted to like this movie, I really did. Kevin Bacon is always a solid presence, but the story felt so…tired. The jump scares were predictable, and the family drama felt tacked on. I remember feeling a sense of disappointment more than fear. It’s a shame because the premise had potential, but the execution just wasn’t there. The best part was when it ended.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of PG-13 supernatural horror movies.”
  • “Viewers looking for a light scare.”
  • “Those interested in films exploring family dynamics under stress.”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Supernatural horror elements”
  • “Suggestive themes”
  • “Brief language”
  • “Teenage bulimia (briefly shown)”

Professional Reviews

• IMDb: “The Darkness is a derivative, condescending mess of a movie which is not frightening in the least. Director Greg McLean combines legends separated by centuries into a ‘Poltergeist’ rip-off. The scariest image is black handprints, which are as horrifying as a careless auto mechanic.
• Rotten Tomatoes: “Offers little more than jump scares. Kevin Bacon does his best to bring some gravitas, but this is a paint-by-numbers haunting story that fails to deliver on its intriguing premise. Overall, a forgettable horror experience.
• Common Sense Media: “It’s more of a family drama. The characters are all stereotypes, the movie is cliché, uninspired, and above all Not Scary.

Audience Reactions

The Native American elements offered a unique spin on the typical haunted house formula.: Some viewers found the family dynamics relatable and appreciated the effort to create a suspenseful atmosphere.

Kevin Bacon’s performance was a standout, adding depth to an otherwise predictable plot.: Fans of Kevin Bacon enjoyed his acting, even if they found the movie itself lacking.

Overall Consensus: The Darkness is generally considered a disappointing and unoriginal horror film, despite having a talented cast and an intriguing premise. Viewers found the story predictable and lacking in genuine scares.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The film’s title changed several times during production, including being briefly known as ‘6 Miranda Drive’.”
• “Director Greg McLean has stated that the film is based on a true story of a haunting relayed to him years ago.”
• “The bleaker alternate ending, where the entire family perishes, was scrapped after negative test audience reactions, leading to a reshoot of a happier conclusion.”

🖥️ How to Watch The Darkness?

The Darkness is available for rent or purchase on various digital platforms, including Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Check your local listings for cable on-demand options. Physical copies (DVD and Blu-ray) are also available through online retailers like Amazon and at most major retailers.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed The Darkness, you might like these similar films:

• Poltergeist (1982): Features a family terrorized by supernatural forces in their home, with a child acting as a conduit.
• Insidious (2010): Involves a family dealing with malevolent spirits targeting their child, and their struggle to protect him.
• Sinister (2012): A family moves into a new house only to discover that it’s haunted by a demonic presence and a series of gruesome murders.

🛒 The Darkness Related Products

• The Anasazi: Ancient People of the Four Corners: Dive deeper into the history and culture of the Anasazi people, exploring their mysteries and traditions. This book provides valuable insights into the civilization that inspired the movie’s lore.
• Grand Canyon National Park Map & Guide: A detailed map and guide to the Grand Canyon, allowing you to explore the actual locations featured in the movie and discover the beauty of this natural wonder.
• Kevin Bacon Movie Collection: A collection of Kevin Bacon’s best films, offering a chance to revisit his iconic roles and appreciate his versatility as an actor. Includes Stir of Echoes, and Footloose
• Dreamcatcher: Handmade dreamcatcher with natural feathers, designed to protect against bad dreams and negative energy. Inspired by Native American traditions, this piece adds a touch of mystique to any room.

🎧 Soundtrack

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

• “It’s a Good Life” – performed by Bruce Bergh
• “Tension (Score)” – performed by Johnny Klimek

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

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

THE DARKNESS 2016 movie explained in hindi | hollywood horror movie explained in hindi

Ever felt totally lost after watching ‘The Darkness’? This video breaks down the whole movie in Hindi, making it super easy to understand! Honestly, it cleared up so many confusing parts for me – you gotta check it out if you’re still scratching your head.

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