There are several explanations why I would see \Darkness Falls."" Great horror films, rare as they are, can become instant classics. Perhaps my sheer love of movie watching would be enough to make me pay the price of admission. The more likely explanation is that editor Amos Posner just refused to see it, leaving me with few to no options.
In truth, I think I just enjoy subjecting myself to painfully disappointing films. ""Darkness Falls"" definitely fits that category--a predictable, factory-produced script that features a B-list cast and direction that focuses far too much on stylized scares instead of genuine fear.
Set on the New England coast, the community of Darkness Falls holds old legends like every other small town. Falls' legend revolves around Matilda Dixon, a woman that lived in the town 150 years ago. Her kind demeanor with the town's children prompted them to call her the ""Tooth Fairy."" However, a fire disfigures her face and confines her to a porcelain mask. The town turns against her when two children vanish and hang her for murder. Before her death, she vows to get revenge.
A young child, Kyle (Chaney Kley), goes to sleep with a tooth under his pillow. This flashback, dated 12 years ago, starts the film. His actions bring back Matilda, who, naturally, is featured complete with white mask and black garb. By killing his mother, Matilda scars him for life. Now back in the present, Caitlin (Emma Caulfield), Kyle's former girlfriend, has a little brother suddenly stricken with similar fears as Kyle. She hunts her ex down, who quickly realizes that Matilda is to blame. Naturally, Kyle is expected to face his past in a supernatural showdown.
Caulfield, who has been known to show great comic timing and poise on ""Buffy the Vampire Slayer,"" is completely wasted talent in this movie. She is reduced to the quintessential female lead. Caitlin is simply an amalgamation of every screaming heroine in the history of the cheesy horror genre. The rest of the cast does the cookie-cutter job that they are presented with in similar disappointing fashion.
Director Jonathan Liebesman is taking his first steps behind the camera with this film. He pays too much attention to style and cheap thrills. Dark, murky lighting makes the film a strain to watch, and the script relies on a loud soundtrack to make the audience jump. One can't watch ""Darkness Falls"" without feeling a sense of familiar mediocrity. Influences seem to range from ""Halloween"" to ""The Blair Witch Project."" Of course, each of those films produced the effects they desired. ""Darkness Falls"" does not.
