‘Out Of Darkness Review: Prehistoric Survival Horror Goes For The Throat With Subtitled Brilliance
Between apocalyptic disaster movies and Lovecraftian cosmic terror, the horror genre pretty well covers the theoretical end of humanity. But what about the start?
In Andrew Cumming's extraordinary directorial debut, Out of Darkness, the director returns to the world of the unknown with an imaginative and chilling thriller that follows a group of nomads who lived 45,000 years ago. Part prehistoric Prey, part Genesis agnostic, the film was written by Cumming and Ruth Greenberg and premiered at the 2022 BFI Film Festival under the more sci-fi-sounding title Origins. The name change is just that. The latest in a series of nuanced creative decisions that make this wild 87-minute monster movie a testament to thoughtful storytelling, an arduous feat made all the more effective by the film's use of Stone Age brutality and simplicity sharp narrative. .
Filmed in the Scottish Highlands, this existential fire story begins in the fire, with each character explaining and speaking like Joseph Campbell, illuminated by flickering yellow light. Hero Adem (Chuku Modu) dominates the others as a force of vengeful beauty; Covered in fur, he looks cleaner and dirtier than all his hungry companions. His "partner", as they call her in the film, Ave (Iola Evans) is pregnant. The king's current heir, Heron (Luna Mwezi), wants a story to be told; but she was not the child's mother, and he quickly told her so.
The original language created for Out of Darkness offers an audio experience no more engaging than a typical college course in Klingon. This is not a criticism; it's not very lyrical. But the stark white subtitles of "Tola," stained with a suspenseful tapestry that unfolds early in the prologue, serve as a multifaceted focal point in Cumming's high-contrast performance. When Adam's advisor, Odal (Arno Luening), regales the future prince with a metanarrative of the journey they have undertaken, his words mark the pale faces of the two survivors. Adam's younger brother Geirr (Kit Young) sits across from the mysterious and prickly Beyah (Safia Oakley-Green), his magnetic gaze penetrating just above the word "Wanderer". Bejah's casual place in the herd was among the cattle, slaves, and concubines.
Six pilgrims set out to escape starvation, traveling over land and sea to reach a promised land that fails to live up to expectations. Driven into desolate terrain and dying in the icy darkness, they are in desperate need of food and shelter and trust in the leader of the herd. Only when young Heron is suddenly dragged into the night by an unseen predator does Adam distract them by following his son. As total darkness gave way to a blanket of gray clouds, the doomed hunters followed and descended into the forest before night inevitably set in again.
"You killed us," he finally said, again in white letters.
An oasis of color that begs to be seen on the big screen, Out of Darkness might not be the most surprising title. However, Cumming's impressive debut feature shouldn't have been called Inception, a description more reminiscent of an overly polished Prime Video TV movie than the daring triumph on offer here. The cinematography is impressive, vaguely reminiscent of The Seventh Seal (albeit filmed in Sweden), and the allegorical basis of this hero's journey through horror undoubtedly comes from Plato's cave and its centuries-old depiction of enlightenment.
With as many people in real life who can understand a movie without subtitles as there are actors in the cast, Out of Darkness is a movie meant to be read. There is an invisible but tight connective tissue that connects the subtitled dialogue with the faces of the unknown actors and that gravity forces the audience to appreciate the very subtle acting, especially that of Oakley-Green in what is supposed to be the lead role. . Midthunder's prequel "Predator" addresses that as it brings us closer to the scares.
So what is that monster? The visual answer to this question is sure to divide viewers; While anyone who remembers the "Ritual" speech knows what or who they think the killer is, this rarely matches reality. But as a vicious metaphor for humanity's original sin, "Out of Darkness" is an eye-opening orgy of skullduggery and stubbornness that not only deserves a mid-Oscar-season theatrical release, but for Cumming who won his own. . first prize as a leading person. rotate in the running for best horror debut of 2024.
A Bleecker Street and Signature Entertainment release, Out of the Darkness hits theaters on February 9.
