User Score
5.2 out of 10

Mixed or average reviews- based on 141 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 62 out of 141
  2. Negative: 50 out of 141

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  1. Jan 4, 2012
    7
    Before you freak out and judge my review by the number, relax, i know this movie was terrible, but you have to realize, the makers of this movie definitely weren't going for oscar material. The acting was laughable and there was one cheesy speech after another, but my dad and i watch the primetime scifi channel movies every saturday night, so we have experience with these movies, and we love them. I really enjoyed this movie because i went into it with the right mindset. Expect it to be terrible and still give it a slight chance and you won't be disappointed. They definitely did the whole invisible alien concept really well, and the special effects were pretty nice at times, but as always with a cheesy scifi flick, like i said before the acting was a complete joke, but i enjoyed this movie. If you go into the theater expecting a really good alien invasion film with suspense and terror and a solid cast, then don't bother, but if you enjoy a laughable and cheesy film, then this is a must-see, i enjoyed myself. 6.5/10 Expand
  2. Dec 28, 2011
    3
    This movie was pretty darn awful. There never really seems like any point in the movie where there is any sort of legitimate drive beyond "lets go this way". And even then, they rarely answer the question "why". "let's go this way, because this that and the other"... and why does that matter? And beyond that, it didn't even spend that time developing any of the 5-6 main characters more than "I have a family somewhere else in the world who I'm wondering if survived!" and, about the special effects stuff, the only thing it really had to offer, were some cool death scenes, and one or two cool landscapes (the one involving the airplane was rather cool). Everything else was either dull or silly looking... If you are absolutely dying to see this movie, wait until it's on Netflix so the only thing you're wasting is the hour and a half spent watching the movie. :P Expand
  3. Dec 25, 2011
    8
    This movie borrows heavily from a Russian science fiction story story called a Roadside Picnic, not very well known in the west but it's pretty much a force in Russian storytelling equal to America's Lord of the Rings or Star Wars. This translates into a movie that might just be different and strange enough to keep westerners engaged even though the movie has some pretty weak parts. Character development does'nt always make sense, there were a few people that seemed interesting and worthwhile at the beginning that just lose all speaking lines at a certain point and simply hang around making stupid decisions until the inevitable death. The unmasked aliens look pretty ridiculous. Expand
  4. Jan 8, 2012
    0
    I would rate this film one star and that would be generous. The characters were one dimensional and you knew who was going to get killed a mile off. The special effects were on the level of a made-for-TV-movie on the sci-fi channel. The 3D was needless because there was nothing enhanced since the special effects and the aliens were practically non-existent. I would advise to save your money and time and stay home and watch a good sci-fi dvd. This movie would have appealed to children from 10-15 years old, with absolutely no knowledge of what constituents a good movie experience, plot or special effects. When it was finally over, I wished that I could have gotten my time and/or money back. Expand
  5. Jan 14, 2012
    4
    Acting universally on the "new actor" side of the scale...even the dog was no Rin Tin Tin... Think somewhere between Nick Jr. And ABC Family. I went with really low expectations invoking my motto that "bad sci-fi is better than no sci-fi" As a result? It was a solid 4.5. And I saw it in 3D ...if you can release your inner MST3K? You'll enjoy it more. Otherwise the darkest hour will be last 60 minutes of the film. Expand
  6. Dec 28, 2011
    4
    Really, invisible aliens? never before have I seen such a stupid attempt a t an action movie. Very disappointed. Check my profile for the most updated movie reviews.
  7. Apr 15, 2012
    0
    The Darkest Hour is pure sci-fi crap. I like the trailer more often than the movie itself because I don't even care about alien movies anymore. I just always watch Independence Day and Mars Attacks! I like Emile Hirsch when he was Speed Racer, but the characters from The Darkest Hour is more stupider than Jack and Jill was and they don't even know what they say. The action of the movie is wasted too much time in about a minute or so and the script is a mess. Who needs Battle Los Angeles when you need 'em? Forget about renting on DVD or crappy 3-D versions, this is an absurd title with a made-for-TV monologue. "The Darkest Hour" is pretty dark and pretty damn boring. One of the worst movies of the year. They had their hour, but when the lights are out, it's game over! Expand
  8. Dec 28, 2011
    3
    **** you darkest hour... **** you... this movie was awful,, characters are boring, try's to be dramatic but lacks everything it needs to make it work. the aliens look awful.
  9. Dec 27, 2011
    2
    This movie is powered by decent special effects, terrible acting, no character development, and the stupidest storyline ever. Oscar or Not? DO I EVEN NEED TO ASK THAT QUESTION!!!???
  10. Feb 2, 2012
    3
    I thought the movie was awesome but it isn't. Good visual effect doesn't make up for a crappy storyline. This movie is one of the worst movie I've watched.
  11. Mar 26, 2012
    0
    The film is really terrible, awful, stupid, we watching much times the alien movies, the only different is that they take Rusia, and is the only different. Cast, story, all in The Darkest Hour is horrible. Awful movie.
  12. Mar 18, 2012
    0
    I've only one advice. Don't watch this movie. Terrible script , acting & story line. I don't know why I spent 10 bucks on this movie in the cinema. Although I had a feeling that this movie will suck, I didn't know that it will be THIS bad. It's so bad I want to cry.
  13. Aug 21, 2012
    2
    I saw the trailors for this when it came to DVD and thought "well this looks like a fun movie" well boy was i wrong . The plot is dumb , the pacing is slugish , the acting is sub par , the special effects are ok . It feels like a Micheal Bay Film but with a twist of Lame , Dull , and pointless just it make i suck alittle bit more then a Bay film should . If you want to see a film with people fighting aliens in it see james camrons Aliens flick. Avoid this smelly turd at all cost. Expand
  14. Apr 21, 2012
    3
    The Darkest Hour is a science-fiction film starring Emilie Hirsch, Olivia Thirlby, Max Minghella, Rachael Taylor, and Joel Kinnaman as five people who are fighting off a species of aliens who attack them while in Moscow. And, I know you're thinking that this sounds kind of dumb and unoriginal. Well, what were you expecting? There were many missed opportunities with The Darkest Hour. Not only was this venture unsuccessful, but it's also uninteresting, and has some pretty awful acting. Expand
  15. Jan 2, 2012
    10
    Very good in concept. Poorly executed. I'm putting a 10 to balance the score. It wasn't AWFUL. At the same time, it wasn't AWESOME. There was definitely room for improvement.
  16. Dec 27, 2011
    6
    I saw the previews for this might go and see it at the movies depends what else is on or might just wait it for dvd...I have to say this all I could think of after seeing this preview was final fantasy spirits within invisible enemies, cities wiped to the ground, people being vaporised if been killed but the aliens..
  17. Jan 13, 2012
    3
    Stupid movie with stupid setting with stupid characters and stupid story. As you can tell I did not like the movie AT all the only reason why I gave it a 3 is for the special effects and the design in the alien creature I sought of liked it. Nothing really happens in the film basically they're just running away, running away, running away nothing really answered thats just about it
  18. Jan 28, 2012
    0
    I went to see this film with some friends and we all agreed that this film was AWFUL! Bad acting, pathetic speeches and a just awful storyline. Some giant blobs just appear in the sky kill everyone one by one and tge two main characters fall in love which is all too predictable! Stupid and rubbish! Never again!
    We thought that the bad reviews were just opinions but they're definately not!
  19. May 11, 2012
    5
    Its not extremely bad like everybody says. Its just an okay scary film that makes good use of the few ideas it has. Nothing special here, but slightly entertaining.
  20. Oct 15, 2012
    4
    After seeing this film, I've decided that I don't like Timur Bekmabetov that much (who is acting as Producer here). The Russian wunderkind may be the best in his home country, but his films so far, to put it lightly, feels second rate. The critics seemed to like him so much, heaping praise for his 'innovation'. However, his higher budgeted pictures felt amateurish at best. The Darkest Hour started pretty good, but felt so unsatisfying and derivative of every Alien invasion film that you felt cheated in the end. If you want an Indie genre director that really delivers, wait for Neil Blonkamp's (District 9's) next features. Expand
  21. Dec 28, 2011
    10
    The Darkest Hour is the story of five young people who find themselves stranded in Moscow, fighting to survive in the wake of a devastating alien attack. The 3D thriller highlights the classic beauty of Moscow alongside mind-blowing special effects.
  22. Dec 29, 2011
    5
    not bad but arent there any proper ending??==
    the film is very nice but it don't look like the storyline make any sense,,anywell i quite enjoy
    the 3d doest have any 3d effects,,so its the movie or the cinema's problem????
  23. Jan 9, 2012
    1
    The movie was fake. I didn't like the ending and I didn't like how it was moving so fast. There is no way the rest of the world would have tons of surviors if Moscow was totally wiped out for the most part. I should have seen Devil Inside.
  24. Jan 14, 2012
    2
    I saw this film with my partner tonight, and I just couldn't understand the concept. If the aliens seriously used electrical powers to "microwave" people, as they put it.. Why on EARTH didn't they just have full rubber suits on and just walked through it. Completely stupid film, acting was terrible.. Got to the point that you couldn't even understand their voices by the end! Muttering, staggering even sometimes, the ending itself was just bad. This'll be the best film, when drunk. Expand
  25. May 1, 2012
    6
    "The Darkest Hour" (2011) is a horror and science fiction movie about the attack of an enigmatic alien race, consisting of energy, and invisible to most of the time for normal people in the city of Moscow . The story follows a young group that meets together, when this occurs and their quest for survival. Aesthetically speaking, the film was produced to be presented in 3D, and no doubt mostlyof it are really cool - actually the best part of
    the film. Moscow is shown very well, with famous city locations.

    The performances are regular to bad, and full of clichés. The story is
    interesting at the start, but in the final third of the film moves a
    bit from the original focus, and the explanation of the invaders was
    very strange and forced - not to mention it has a hook for a sequel,
    wide open.

    It's a good movie to watch without expectations, but nothing more than
    this (or to showcase your new 3D HDTV) - the movie is worth for the
    images of Moscow and its beginning. My score: 6.0 / 10.0.
    Expand
  26. May 25, 2012
    4
    It could have been better. But a more developed character and storyline would have made this a good movie. This movie has decent special effects, and a some Russian freedom fighters, which was pretty awesome :P
  27. Dec 8, 2012
    6
    An alien movie with good special effects.
  28. Nov 29, 2012
    1
    Is this a movie or a joke? Definitely has to go in the bottom 10 of movies I've seen. The plot is virtually non-existent. Characters are introduced, developed for 5 min. and then killed. 90 minutes of people running away from invisible forces and in the end there's absolutely no resolution. I don't know how this movie even made it into production...
  29. man
    Apr 20, 2012
    5
    Wasn't terrible like I expected it to be, but one thing's for sure, it's EXTREMELY forgettable. It's movies like this that have moviegoers like myself wishing that Hollywood would snap out of whatever moneymaking trance that they're stuck in and realize how sick and tired we are of alien invasion movies. It's just the same old-same old concept with C-class acting(Emile Hirsch is an exception only because I respect him for his work in other films.)Aside from acting, visuals are fine but not outstanding in any sense. My main problem with this movie was the script. It had to have ripped off at least a dozen other alien invasion films. That is what makes this movie so forgettable, because it's not only like every other invasion movie ever made, it literally feels like every other invasion movie ever made. It honestly felt like I was watching Battle: Los Angeles or Skyline all over again. Overall, not at all highly recommended, but if you REALLY insist on watching it, just rent it once. Expand
  30. Aug 1, 2012
    10
    I am giving this movie a10, just to Balance the score out. It was a good movie . Rating movies doesnt make sense at all. To Film up the space i also add that Emile Hirsch is really Hot.
Metascore

Overwhelming dislike - based on 10 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 10
  2. Negative: 8 out of 10
  1. Reviewed by: Keith Staskiewicz
    Dec 29, 2011
    33
    You should be rooting for the humans, but you might as well be rooting for the blobs. Most likely, though, you'll just be rooting for the credits.
  2. Reviewed by: David Ehrlich
    Dec 28, 2011
    10
    The Darkest Hour isn't just a dark horse contender for the year's biggest joke, it's the darkest.
  3. Reviewed by: Nathan Rabin
    Dec 28, 2011
    0
    Not since Mark Wahlberg trembled in fear beside a menacing houseplant in "The Happening" has a film tried to provoke terror with such an unlikely object of menace.