The Darkest Hour Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Invisible aliens arrive in Moscow to steal Earth’s electricity, but mostly just inconvenience a group of American tourists who really wanted to party.

🍿 The Darkest Hour: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Arrival in Moscow and Initial Setback

American software developers Sean and Ben arrive in Moscow hoping to secure funding for their travel app. Their Swedish partner, Skyler, betrays them by presenting their idea as his own, leaving them stranded and frustrated. They decide to unwind at a local nightclub, Zvezda, where they encounter two American tourists, Natalie and Anne.

The Alien Invasion Begins

While at the nightclub, strange lights appear in the sky, initially mistaken for a natural phenomenon. These lights quickly reveal themselves to be alien invaders, invisible beings that disintegrate humans using Earth’s power grid. The city descends into chaos as people are vaporized, and the group seeks refuge in the club’s storage room.

Seeking Refuge and Discovering Weaknesses

After several days, the group emerges from hiding and attempts to reach the U.S. embassy. Along the way, they encounter a reclusive Russian woman who warns them about the ‘ghosts’ and discover that glass acts as an insulator against the aliens’ energy. They eventually find the embassy deserted but uncover vital information about the global invasion and a potential evacuation point.

The Faraday Cage and Journey to the Submarine

The group is taken in by Sergei and Vika, who reside in a Faraday cage-protected apartment. They translate a radio message revealing a nuclear submarine, K-152, is waiting in the Moscow River to evacuate survivors. As they attempt to reach the submarine, Anne is killed by the aliens. They meet a group of armed resistance fighters who know how to hurt the aliens.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Sean (Emile Hirsch): An American software developer who learns to fight back against the alien invaders and protect the survivors.
• Natalie (Olivia Thirlby): An American tourist who joins Sean in the fight for survival and develops a close bond with him.
• Ben (Max Minghella): Sean’s best friend and business partner, who provides the brains and support before sacrificing himself for the group.
• Skyler (Joel Kinnaman): A Swedish businessman who betrays Sean and Ben but later tries to redeem himself before being killed by the aliens.
• Vika (Veronika Vernadskaya): A resourceful Russian survivor who joins Sean and Natalie and helps them navigate the post-invasion world.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Sean: “What the hell is going on?” – Said as the characters initially witness the alien invasion, expressing their confusion and fear.
• Natalie: “We have to find a way to fight back.” – Character’s rallying cry to encourage others to resist the alien invaders.
• Ben: “They’re not like anything we’ve ever seen.” – Ben’s observation that conveys the uniqueness of the alien threat.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $30,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $21,443,494
• Worldwide Gross: $64,626,786

💥 The Darkest Hour Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, so ‘The Darkest Hour’ isn’t a masterpiece, but I had a fun time! Seeing Moscow get wrecked by invisible aliens was something different. I was on the edge of my seat during the GUM department store scene. Sure, it’s cheesy, but if you’re looking for a mindless sci-fi flick, this delivers.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of science fiction thrillers”
  • “Viewers interested in unique alien invasion scenarios”
  • “Those who appreciate films set in international locations”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Sci-Fi Violence”
  • “Mild Language”
  • “Character Death”
  • “Scenes of destruction and chaos”

Professional Reviews

• The Hollywood Reporter: “While the Moscow setting offers a fresh backdrop, ‘The Darkest Hour’ suffers from a predictable plot, uninspired characters, and underwhelming special effects. The invisible aliens are more silly than scary, and the film fails to generate genuine suspense.
• IGN: “‘The Darkest Hour’ boasts an intriguing concept with its invisible alien invaders, but the execution falls flat. The characters are paper-thin, the dialogue is clunky, and the pacing is uneven, resulting in a forgettable sci-fi experience.

Audience Reactions

The unique setting of Moscow under alien invasion is a refreshing change from typical American city destruction.: Viewers appreciated the original concept of invisible, energy-based aliens and the Russian setting.

The special effects are simple but effective, especially the way humans are turned into ash.: Some audience members found the special effects to be simple yet effective in creating a suspenseful atmosphere.

Overall Consensus: While ‘The Darkest Hour’ has a unique premise and setting, it suffers from a weak plot, uninspired characters, and uneven pacing, leading to mixed audience and critical reception.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The film was shot on location in Moscow, Russia, giving it a distinct and authentic visual feel.”
• “The visual effects team used a combination of practical effects and CGI to create the invisible alien creatures.”
• “Director Chris Gorak aimed to create a sense of paranoia and isolation, emphasizing the characters’ vulnerability against an unknown enemy.”

🖥️ How to Watch The Darkest Hour?

The Darkest Hour is available for rent or purchase on various platforms including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Check your local listings for availability.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed The Darkest Hour, you might like these similar films:

• Skyline (2010): Features a similar premise of an alien invasion with unique creature designs and a focus on survival.
• War of the Worlds (2005): Explores the theme of humanity facing an overwhelming alien threat, with civilians struggling to survive.
• Independence Day (1996): Deals with a large-scale alien invasion where humanity must unite to fight back, albeit with a more action-oriented approach.
• A Quiet Place (2018): Focuses on characters adapting to survive against mysterious creatures that hunt by sound, similar to how characters in ‘The Darkest Hour’ must adapt to the aliens.

🛒 The Darkest Hour Related Products

• The Darkest Hour [Blu-ray]: Relive the alien invasion of Moscow in stunning high definition with bonus deleted and extended scenes. A must-have for any sci-fi collector.
• Alien Invasion Movie Marathon Collection [DVD]: Experience a compilation of thrilling alien invasion films. It offers hours of entertainment and exploration of different takes on the alien invasion genre.
• Faraday Cage Kit: Protect your electronics and small living space from electromagnetic pulses (EMP) with the DIY Faraday Cage Kit. Instructions included.
• World War aliens: Invasion: Play as the last survivors of the Human race to fight back against the enemy. Play with friends to complete objectives in a massive open world.

🎧 Soundtrack

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

• “MOCKBA (Moscow)” – performed by Marselle

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

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Gary Oldman wins Best Actor

Witness Gary Oldman’s emotional acceptance speech as he wins Best Actor at the Oscars for his phenomenal portrayal of Winston Churchill in ‘Darkest Hour’. Honestly, seeing his dedication recognized like this gives me goosebumps!

Darkest Hour | Based on a True Story

Ever wondered how historically accurate ‘Darkest Hour’ really is? The Cynical Historian dives deep, separating fact from fiction. I found some of the historical liberties they took really interesting, you should check this out!

WW2 Historian James Holland Breaks Down World War 2 Movies

See what a real WW2 Historian thinks of the film! While not all about ‘Darkest Hour,’ James Holland sheds light on its historical context and places it within the broader spectrum of WWII movies. It’s so interesting to learn the real history, check it out!

✨ Rate