Post by Nobody on Sept 16, 2006 11:24:28 GMT -5
Darkness: The Vampire Version (Limited Edition) By Lust del Carrion
Directed by: Leif Jonker
Released by: Barrel Entertainment
Approximate Running Time: 84 minutes
Rating: Unrated
Region Coding: NTSC Region 1
A small town is invaded by a group of vampires. After seeing his friends attacked by the vampires in a small convenience store, Tobe runs off to track them down and kill them. He follows the group of vampires to a small town where he meets a few survivors. Together, they try to stay alive long enough to fight Liven, king of the vampires.
Leif Jonker's Darkness is a great low-budget vampire film from the early '90s. Although it involves vampires, it is much more of a gore film. You can tell that films like The Evil Dead really had a lot of influence on the filmmakers. Despite its extremely low-budget, Darkness has managed to become one of the best cult horror films out there.
This was Jonker's first feature-length film, and it really does show. It's filmed on Super 8, the acting is pretty terrible, and there is almost no lighting in some scenes. However, you would expect this from any director's first effort. What you wouldn't expect, is a film like this to become a cult classic, but that is exactly what happened with Jonker's Darkness. You see, despite these faults, the film manages to create atmosphere, suspense and classic gross-out moments, because Leif Jonker made a film about what he knew. He knew horror, so he made a horror film, and he poured everything he had into it.
The directing that Jonker did in the film is pretty incredible. The chase scenes are especially great. The scenes are just overflowing with amazing amounts of energy. Then there will be other scenes that are just so surreal, with the main characters running through empty neighborhoods, while carrying machetes and shotguns.
Besides the great filming techniques from Jonker, there is also a ton of blood and gore in the film. Almost everyone working on the film was between the ages of 15 and 20, so when it comes to the special effects, you really have to give these guys an applause. The F/X work in Darkness is really great, and it actually rivals some of the F/X work done for The Evil Dead and Dead Alive. The ending meltdown sequence just has to be seen to be believed!
The musical score is another thing that makes this movie so great. It has this really haunting yet sad feel to it. It works flawlessly with the film.
Despite the faults in Darkness, everything positive about it comes together and makes it one amazing film. Leif Jonker has created a cult film for true horror fans, and I can't help but highly recommend this incredible little film to everyone.
Barrel Entertainment has put together the ultimate DVD package for Darkness. This 2 disc limited edition set is packed to the brim with extras. On the first disc there is not one, not two, but three commentaries for the film! One with Leif Jonker and the cast & crew, one with Leif Jonker and the co-composer along with special F/X artist Gary Miller, and one with just Leif Jonker. All of them are very interesting and worth listening to. There is also a thirty minute documentary on the film titled, Vampire Bootcamp. The documentary gives alot of insight into what went on during the making of the film, and it includes tons of interviews with the cast & crew. On the second disc you can watch the original release version of Darkness taken from the original 1" videotape master. A photo archive of over one thousand images is also included. Both discs also have an optional audio track for the extras with Leif Jonker talking about different things. I highly recommend playing this alternate audio track when watching the extras, because Jonker has some pretty amazing stories to tell. You will definitely gain a ton of respect for the man when listening to him on the alternate audio tracks and commentaries. Overall, this is an amazing DVD package, and the film is an absolutely must have for any true horror fan!
Extras
Disc 1:
* Three feature length audio commentary tracks featuring the director, special FX artist, co-composer, cast & crew!
* Vampire Bootcamp- The making of Darkness! All new 30-minute featurette with cast & crew interviews!
* New Apostasy music video for the song "World Of Sin"!
* Behind-the-scenes footage of four exploding vampires!
* Extended rough-cut of the climatic meltdown sequence!
* Photo gallery, including promo art for Darkness 2 & 3!
* Festival screening intro with Demon Machine promo!
* Alternate audio/commentary track on all bonus materials!
* Remastering demo, trailers, promo-spots, MUCH MORE!
Disc 2:
* Darkness- The original release version, unaltered and unedited, sourced directly from the 1" videotape master!
* The photo archive- Comprehensive 50-minute gallery of over 1,000 (yes, over one thousand!) images documenting the production and "life" of the film, all accompanied by excerpts of the Darkness original music soundtrack composed/performed by Michael Curtis and Leif Jonker!
* Highlights from the Nevermore & Cucalorus Film Festival screenings with filmmaker Q&A and audience reactions!
* Alternate/deleted scenes- some never before released!
* A brief tour of the Wichita, KS production studio in 1990!
* Deth's Oogly Hed #3- Sacremento public access cable television interview segment with director Leif Jonker!
* Television broadcast introduction with lab mascot Chaka!
* Three alternate trailers and three rarely seen promotional teasers including spots for Skull Full & Darkness 2!
* Alternate audio, music, FX and/or filmmaker commentary tracks on all bonus materials!
* Much, MUCH MORE!
Score
Film: 5 out of 5
DVD: 5 out of 5
Visit Real Cult Film for more reviews! www.geocities.com/realcultfilm
Directed by: Leif Jonker
Released by: Barrel Entertainment
Approximate Running Time: 84 minutes
Rating: Unrated
Region Coding: NTSC Region 1
A small town is invaded by a group of vampires. After seeing his friends attacked by the vampires in a small convenience store, Tobe runs off to track them down and kill them. He follows the group of vampires to a small town where he meets a few survivors. Together, they try to stay alive long enough to fight Liven, king of the vampires.
Leif Jonker's Darkness is a great low-budget vampire film from the early '90s. Although it involves vampires, it is much more of a gore film. You can tell that films like The Evil Dead really had a lot of influence on the filmmakers. Despite its extremely low-budget, Darkness has managed to become one of the best cult horror films out there.
This was Jonker's first feature-length film, and it really does show. It's filmed on Super 8, the acting is pretty terrible, and there is almost no lighting in some scenes. However, you would expect this from any director's first effort. What you wouldn't expect, is a film like this to become a cult classic, but that is exactly what happened with Jonker's Darkness. You see, despite these faults, the film manages to create atmosphere, suspense and classic gross-out moments, because Leif Jonker made a film about what he knew. He knew horror, so he made a horror film, and he poured everything he had into it.
The directing that Jonker did in the film is pretty incredible. The chase scenes are especially great. The scenes are just overflowing with amazing amounts of energy. Then there will be other scenes that are just so surreal, with the main characters running through empty neighborhoods, while carrying machetes and shotguns.
Besides the great filming techniques from Jonker, there is also a ton of blood and gore in the film. Almost everyone working on the film was between the ages of 15 and 20, so when it comes to the special effects, you really have to give these guys an applause. The F/X work in Darkness is really great, and it actually rivals some of the F/X work done for The Evil Dead and Dead Alive. The ending meltdown sequence just has to be seen to be believed!
The musical score is another thing that makes this movie so great. It has this really haunting yet sad feel to it. It works flawlessly with the film.
Despite the faults in Darkness, everything positive about it comes together and makes it one amazing film. Leif Jonker has created a cult film for true horror fans, and I can't help but highly recommend this incredible little film to everyone.
Barrel Entertainment has put together the ultimate DVD package for Darkness. This 2 disc limited edition set is packed to the brim with extras. On the first disc there is not one, not two, but three commentaries for the film! One with Leif Jonker and the cast & crew, one with Leif Jonker and the co-composer along with special F/X artist Gary Miller, and one with just Leif Jonker. All of them are very interesting and worth listening to. There is also a thirty minute documentary on the film titled, Vampire Bootcamp. The documentary gives alot of insight into what went on during the making of the film, and it includes tons of interviews with the cast & crew. On the second disc you can watch the original release version of Darkness taken from the original 1" videotape master. A photo archive of over one thousand images is also included. Both discs also have an optional audio track for the extras with Leif Jonker talking about different things. I highly recommend playing this alternate audio track when watching the extras, because Jonker has some pretty amazing stories to tell. You will definitely gain a ton of respect for the man when listening to him on the alternate audio tracks and commentaries. Overall, this is an amazing DVD package, and the film is an absolutely must have for any true horror fan!
Extras
Disc 1:
* Three feature length audio commentary tracks featuring the director, special FX artist, co-composer, cast & crew!
* Vampire Bootcamp- The making of Darkness! All new 30-minute featurette with cast & crew interviews!
* New Apostasy music video for the song "World Of Sin"!
* Behind-the-scenes footage of four exploding vampires!
* Extended rough-cut of the climatic meltdown sequence!
* Photo gallery, including promo art for Darkness 2 & 3!
* Festival screening intro with Demon Machine promo!
* Alternate audio/commentary track on all bonus materials!
* Remastering demo, trailers, promo-spots, MUCH MORE!
Disc 2:
* Darkness- The original release version, unaltered and unedited, sourced directly from the 1" videotape master!
* The photo archive- Comprehensive 50-minute gallery of over 1,000 (yes, over one thousand!) images documenting the production and "life" of the film, all accompanied by excerpts of the Darkness original music soundtrack composed/performed by Michael Curtis and Leif Jonker!
* Highlights from the Nevermore & Cucalorus Film Festival screenings with filmmaker Q&A and audience reactions!
* Alternate/deleted scenes- some never before released!
* A brief tour of the Wichita, KS production studio in 1990!
* Deth's Oogly Hed #3- Sacremento public access cable television interview segment with director Leif Jonker!
* Television broadcast introduction with lab mascot Chaka!
* Three alternate trailers and three rarely seen promotional teasers including spots for Skull Full & Darkness 2!
* Alternate audio, music, FX and/or filmmaker commentary tracks on all bonus materials!
* Much, MUCH MORE!
Score
Film: 5 out of 5
DVD: 5 out of 5
Visit Real Cult Film for more reviews! www.geocities.com/realcultfilm
HMaM Global Mod
Have put it on wishlist for next month
