X
  • 2013
  • Not Rated
  • Strand Releasing
  • 1 h 29 m
  • 2013
  • Not Rated
  • Strand Releasing
  • 1 h 29 m

Summary When Taryn (Deragh Campbell), a Northern Irish runaway, finds herself in trouble in Ocean City, MD, she seeks refuge with her aunt and uncle in Baltimore. But they are trying to handle the end of their marriage gracefully for the sake of their daughter Abby (Hannah Gross), just home from her first year of college. [Strand Releasing]

Directed By: Matthew Porterfield

Written By: Amy Belk, Matthew Porterfield

  • 2013
  • Not Rated
  • Strand Releasing
  • 1 h 29 m
  • 2013
  • Not Rated
  • Strand Releasing
  • 1 h 29 m

I Used to Be Darker

Metascore Generally Favorable Based on 10 Critic Reviews
69
User Score Mixed or Average Based on 8 User Ratings
4.6
My Score
Hover and click to give a rating Saved

Where to Watch

Summary When Taryn (Deragh Campbell), a Northern Irish runaway, finds herself in trouble in Ocean City, MD, she seeks refuge with her aunt and uncle in Baltimore. But they are trying to handle the end of their marriage gracefully for the sake of their daughter Abby (Hannah Gross), just home from her first year of college. [Strand Releasing]

Directed By: Matthew Porterfield

Written By: Amy Belk, Matthew Porterfield

Where to Watch

Top Cast

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Critic Reviews

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Metascore
Generally Favorable Based on 10 Critic Reviews
69
70% Positive
7 Reviews
30% Mixed
3 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews

Critic Reviews

 View All
Metascore
Generally Favorable Based on 10 Critic Reviews
69
70% Positive
7 Reviews
30% Mixed
3 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews
91
Oct 2, 2013
Drenched in the evening glow of its urban and suburban backdrops, Darker comes alive in the dark, when its characters are drowning their sorrows in song, the sauce, or conversation.
By A.A. Dowd FULL REVIEW
80
Oct 10, 2013
It's a story of contained chaos, quietly observed — one that catches fire more in retrospect than in the viewing.
By Sheri Linden FULL REVIEW
75
Oct 2, 2013
Some occasionally awkward performance moments aside, though, the film is very compassionate towards its characters and finds just about enough original insight within the well-worn family drama genre to keep things from feeling too familiar—it’s a just a shame there couldn’t have been a little more vitality injected early on.
By Jessica Kiang FULL REVIEW
70
Oct 3, 2013
Mr. Porterfield might sometimes be too subtle for his own good, but by taking us on a low-key ramble through the ever-shifting feelings of a fractured family, he has woven a dreamy, detached chronicle of dissolution and renewal.
By Jeannette Catsoulis FULL REVIEW
70
Oct 1, 2013
The film exhibits a contemplative quiet and attentiveness to detail that enhances its issues of regret, bitterness, and confusion, many of which are rooted in thorny parent-child relations.
By Nick Schager FULL REVIEW
50
Oct 4, 2013
Watching Campbell over her shoulder or in a mirror is frustrating because it consistently limits our view of her character. Porterfield's people can't give anything away beyond their immediate aggression, frustration, and sadness. But it's hard to appreciate an intentionally blurry portrait of a family that's so impressionistic that all you can see of its already-withdrawn characters are their shadows.
By Simon Abrams FULL REVIEW
50
Oct 2, 2013
Where before, Porterfield seemed to be recording life as it’s lived, here, he’s mostly recording plot. The difference is glaring.
By Noel Murray FULL REVIEW

User Reviews

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User Score
Mixed or Average Based on 8 User Ratings
4.6
38% Positive
3 Ratings
25% Mixed
2 Ratings
38% Negative
3 Ratings

User Reviews

 View All
User Score
Mixed or Average Based on 8 User Ratings
4.6
38% Positive
3 Ratings
25% Mixed
2 Ratings
38% Negative
3 Ratings

There are no user reviews yet. Be the first to add a review.

Details

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Production Company The Hamilton Film Group, Steady Orbits, Nomadic Independence Pictures
Release Date Oct 4, 2013
Duration 1 h 29 m
Rating Not Rated
Genres
Website http://www.facebook.com/iusedtobedarker
View All Details

Awards

Buenos Aires International Festival of Independent Cinema
• 1 Win & 2 Nominations
Sarasota Film Festival
• 1 Nomination
Sundance Film Festival
• 1 Nomination

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