And Soon the Darkness Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Two English girls bike through France, lose each other, and then one spends the rest of the movie trying to figure out which suspicious French person totally ruined their vacation.

🍿 And Soon the Darkness: Detailed Plot Synopsis

The Cycling Holiday Begins

Jane and Cathy, two young English nurses on a cycling holiday, explore the picturesque French countryside. While initially enjoying their trip, disagreements begin to surface regarding their pace and itinerary. Cathy prefers a more relaxed approach, wanting to stop and take in the scenery, while the more pragmatic Jane is focused on sticking to their schedule.

A Fateful Argument and Separation

The differing priorities lead to a heated argument by the side of a secluded road near some woods. Frustrated, Jane decides to cycle ahead to the next village, leaving Cathy alone to sunbathe. This seemingly minor disagreement sets the stage for the unfolding mystery.

The Search for a Missing Friend

Feeling guilty, Jane returns to the spot where she left Cathy, but her friend is nowhere to be found. Her bicycle is still there, but Cathy has vanished without a trace. Alone and with limited French, Jane begins a frantic search, encountering various locals whose behavior fuels her confusion and suspicion.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Jane (Pamela Franklin): A determined English nurse desperately searching for her missing friend in rural France despite facing language barriers and suspicious locals.
• Cathy (Michele Dotrice): Jane’s friend who mysteriously disappears in the French countryside after they separate following an argument.
• Det. Paul Salmon (Sandor Elès): A Frenchman Jane encounters who offers to help find her friend but whose ambiguous behavior makes him a prime suspect.
• Gendarme (John Nettleton): A local police officer Jane seeks help from, whose inability or reluctance to communicate effectively increases her sense of isolation and fear.
• Schoolmistress (Clare Kelly): An English expatriate who provides Jane with cryptic warnings and information about a past tragedy in the area.
• Madame Lassal (Hana Maria Pravda): The proprietor of a local café who is one of the unhelpful French locals Jane struggles to communicate with.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Cathy: “Yeah, I must say, this is the best place we’ve hit so far. It’s not exactly swinging, but it is dangling.” – Cathy says this while relaxing by the roadside early in the film, expressing her laid-back attitude contrasting with Jane’s desire to stick to their schedule.

💰Box Office

• Budget: £260,000
• Domestic Gross: N/A
• Worldwide Gross: N/A

💥 And Soon the Darkness Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, so I went into ‘And Soon the Darkness’ expecting a standard old-school thriller, but wow, it really got under my skin! The way they used the bright, sunny French countryside to make you feel totally isolated and vulnerable was brilliant. I felt Jane’s frustration so strongly with the language barrier; not subtitling the French was a stroke of genius because I was just as lost and scared as she was. It made every interaction with a local feel potentially dangerous. The part where she’s searching near the woods and you hear just the wind and sparse music, that silence was heavier than any loud jump scare. And the buildup of paranoia – constantly wondering who she could actually trust – was just masterful. This one sticks with you.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of classic suspense thrillers”
  • “Viewers who appreciate atmospheric filmmaking”
  • “Mystery enthusiasts”
  • “Fans of ‘women in jeopardy’ films”
  • “Those interested in 1970s British cinema”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Abduction”
  • “Implied sexual threat and violence (not graphic)”
  • “Missing person”
  • “Death/Murder”

Professional Reviews

• IMDb User Review (N/A): “This atmospheric British thriller masterfully builds tension, turning a sunny French countryside into a landscape of dread. The decision to omit subtitles for French dialogue brilliantly immerses the viewer in the protagonist’s confusion and fear, making her vulnerability palpable. It’s a slow burn, but the payoff in suspense and creeping paranoia is well worth the patience. An underrated gem in the women-in-peril genre.
• IMDb User Review (N/A): “A stylish and effective suspense flick from the director of Dr. Phibes. The film excels in creating a palpable sense of helplessness, largely due to the language barrier and isolated setting. Pamela Franklin delivers a convincing performance as the desperate lead. While it starts slowly, the tension mounts steadily, leading to a nail-biting climax. A classic example of doing a lot with a little.
• IMDb User Review (N/A): “This film is a fascinating exercise in daytime suspense. Despite being set entirely during the day, the rural French locations feel increasingly menacing. The script keeps you guessing, throwing out multiple red herrings among the suspicious locals. While the ending might divide some, the journey is undeniably atmospheric and tense, showcasing strong performances, particularly from the lead actress.

Audience Reactions

Viewers loved the suspenseful atmosphere created despite being set in broad daylight.: Many praise the film’s effective use of the language barrier to heighten tension and the lead actress’s convincing portrayal of fear and helplessness.

Overall Consensus: A highly atmospheric and tense British thriller praised for its clever use of setting, language, and building paranoia, though some find the pacing slow or the plot slightly illogical.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The movie was made by much of the same production team that worked on the popular 1960s British television series ‘The Avengers’.”
• “Filming took place on location in Jargeau in Loiret, France, utilizing the authentic rural French countryside.”
• “The decision not to subtitle the French dialogue spoken by local characters was deliberate, intended to place the viewer in the same position of confusion and isolation as the protagonist, who speaks limited French.”

🖥️ How to Watch And Soon the Darkness?

Looking to watch ‘And Soon the Darkness (1970)’? This classic British thriller is available for digital purchase or rental on platforms like Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and YouTube Movies. Check your preferred service for current availability and pricing.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed And Soon the Darkness, you might like these similar films:

• The Vanishing (Spoorloos) (1988): Direct comparison due to its central theme of a frantic search for a missing person in an unfamiliar and seemingly benign setting, leading to escalating psychological dread and distrust.
• Psycho (1960): Shares a thematic similarity in building suspense and terror in a seemingly ordinary environment (a motel/rural road vs. a small town), involving a lone female protagonist encountering unexpected danger and feeling isolated.
• Fright (1971): An era-specific British psychological thriller with a focus on a young woman in peril, featuring atmospheric tension and sharing the same cinematographer, Ian Wilson.
• Wolf Creek (2005): A modern equivalent featuring tourists in an isolated foreign location (Australian outback vs. French countryside) who encounter unexpected and terrifying danger, highlighting themes of helplessness and geographical entrapment.
• The Wicker Man (1973): A British cult classic from the same era where a protagonist feels increasingly isolated and distrustful among the seemingly normal but secretive residents of a remote community, creating a chilling atmosphere of unease.

🛒 And Soon the Darkness Related Products

• And Soon the Darkness (1970) Blu-ray: Experience the classic British thriller in high definition. Features restored picture and sound, often including bonus content like interviews or commentary tracks.
• And Soon the Darkness (2010) DVD or Digital: The modern remake of the classic story, starring Amber Heard and Odette Annable, transplanting the setting to Argentina.
• Vintage Thriller Movie Poster: And Soon the Darkness: A reproduction of the original theatrical poster, capturing the mood and style of 1970s British thrillers.
• Cult British Cinema: A Guide Book: A book exploring the landscape of British cult films from the 60s and 70s, likely featuring a discussion of ‘And Soon the Darkness’ and its place in the genre.

🎧 Soundtrack

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

• “Main Title” – performed by Laurie Johnson
• “Pastoral Cycle” – performed by Laurie Johnson
• “The Chase” – performed by Laurie Johnson
• “End Title” – performed by Laurie Johnson

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

🤨 FAQ

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