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- 2017
- Unrated
- IFC Midnight
- 1 h 40 m
- 2017
- Unrated
- IFC Midnight
- 1 h 40 m
Summary An unholy alliance between two damaged souls leads them on a disturbing descent into the depraved realms of black magic. Sophia (Catherine Walker) is a grieving mother desperate to make contact with her murdered son. Joseph (Steve Oram) is an anti-social, alcoholic expert in the occult who reluctantly agrees to help her. Holed up in a re...
Directed By: Liam Gavin
Written By: Liam Gavin
- 2017
- Unrated
- IFC Midnight
- 1 h 40 m
- 2017
- Unrated
- IFC Midnight
- 1 h 40 m
A Dark Song
71
6.4
Where to Watch
Summary An unholy alliance between two damaged souls leads them on a disturbing descent into the depraved realms of black magic. Sophia (Catherine Walker) is a grieving mother desperate to make contact with her murdered son. Joseph (Steve Oram) is an anti-social, alcoholic expert in the occult who reluctantly agrees to help her. Holed up in a re...
Directed By: Liam Gavin
Written By: Liam Gavin
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 6 Critic Reviews
71
67% Positive
4 Reviews
4 Reviews
33% Mixed
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 6 Critic Reviews
71
67% Positive
4 Reviews
4 Reviews
33% Mixed
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
It is, in fact, an instant classic, the sort of film that will make you check under your bed at night and then amplify into terror the midnight creaks and 3am breezes that unsettle every house at times, most especially yours. Highly recommended.
With the scares stealthy, Gavin’s parable draws power from the heart’s shadows: the climax may alienate some, but its audacity is earned.
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 50 User Ratings
6.4
58% Positive
29 Ratings
29 Ratings
26% Mixed
13 Ratings
13 Ratings
16% Negative
8 Ratings
8 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 50 User Ratings
6.4
58% Positive
29 Ratings
29 Ratings
26% Mixed
13 Ratings
13 Ratings
16% Negative
8 Ratings
8 Ratings
Dark poetic horror. That's how I can characterize this excellent film. Atmospheric with a realistic approach to magic rituals. Directing, acting, photography of a very high level. I'm glad to discover modern horror films, that try to abstain from splatter and SFX, while creating a transfixing horror build-up. It reminded me of "The Witch"; the other horror masterpiece I recently saw.
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Great acting and strong story, although it’s a sometimes slow movie, it delivers some beautiful scenes and not horrifing, but intense moments which make this movie unique in it’s own way.
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The movie dives into the black arts with methodical restraint and escalating unease.
A Dark Song digs its claws in and never lets go, finding horror in rituals, personal reflection and burning black-magic sensations. It’s dreadfully inviting from start to finish, with an almighty climax at just the right time.
The performances are strong and the scenecraft absorbing.
The two leads are resolute soldiers about it all, but they’re dutifully edgy elements in a stylist’s frame instead of fully realized characters living out what is supposed to be the riskiest time of their lives.
The dark as it gets!
It was too slow, one of those films that tests your patience. Not your regular horror flick, but the ingredient was little different than the usual for such theme. A limited cast film and most of the story takes place in an isolated mansion somewhere in Ireland. Where the two people assemble to do some kind of ritual to open the door for the dark force, as well as opposite to that with a reason. Very challenging attempt, had to go through many troubles in the process. But how it all turns out, whether they achieve what they were planning for is what takes us to the final stage where it comes to end with a tiny twist.
This is an independent Irish film. Feature film debut for the director. I don't recognise any of two actors, but they were good. Under a small cost, the film had a better quality. Well created atmosphere, the suspense kept the narration to go all way to the finale. Except the opening, the following parts lagged in any kind of development, but once the final act had begun, the scenario had changed and favoured to end high. I would say, that's what saved this film. Otherwise, I was getting ready to bash it. Yet not the best ending, an acceptable one regarding earlier section of the narration. So a decent film, that can be watched once.
6/10
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Some critics had made me believe this was actually a pretty good film but the truth is that beyond the interesting premise, the narrative is too slow and is only handled as small and disordered bricks building a climax and a conclusion that fails to feel satisfactory.
I honestly expected more.
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A Dark Song has a really interesting concept, two people embark on a journey using dark magic and rituals in order to get what they both want. As a person who really likes additional details and mechanics on how these things worked, what really kept me hooked was the contant explanation of what they were doing and why. Unfortunately, that doesn't really help the move. It's fairly slow paced, it takes a long time to lead up to anywhere and by the time you get to the end of the film, you are just left feeling empty. All that build up and then the movie just kind of poops the bed.
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[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]
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Awards
Monster Fest
• 2 Wins & 2 Nominations
Fantasporto
• 2 Wins & 2 Nominations
Neuchâtel International Fantastic Film Festival
• 2 Nominations
