Dark Skies

Name: Dark Skies
Genre: Sci-Fi, Thriller, Horror
Released: February 22, 2013
Duration: 97 min
Rating: 50
Cast: Annie Thurman, Dakota Goyo, J.K. Simmons, Jake Washburn, Josh Hamilton

2013

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 19 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 205 Ratings

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7.2

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7.2	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 205 Ratings

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Dark Skies

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Movie Details & Credits

Dimension Films | Release Date: February 22, 2013 | PG-13

Starring: Annie Thurman, Dakota Goyo, J.K. Simmons, Jake Washburn, Josh Hamilton, Kadan Rockett, Keri Russell, L.J. Benet, Myndy Crist, Rich Hutchman

Summary: A thriller centered on an alien disguised as a human and a boy tagged for abduction.

Director: Scott Stewart

Genre(s): Sci-Fi, Thriller, Horror

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 97 min

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Awards & Rankings

74	#74 Most Shared Movie of 2013

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Critic Reviews

Film.com Stephanie Zacharek

Feb 26, 2013

Dark Skies is about the fragility of family, a muted meditation on how precious it is...it does affirm that genre filmmakers who work with their eyes, their hearts and their brains still walk among us. Read full review

Clark Collis

Feb 22, 2013

While there are some scares along the way, Stewart foolishly gives away the whole kit and caboodle plot-wise with an opening quotation from Arthur C. Clarke. Read full review

Ken McIntyre

Mar 25, 2013

As a shocker, Scott Stewart’s (Priest) film is solid, but it’s the thoroughly depressing backdrop that you’ll take away. Read full review

Drew Taylor

Feb 22, 2013

Alien abductions are a truly terrifying idea, and building an alien abduction movie on the template of "Poltergeist" is a great idea. But "Poltergeist" had one thing Dark Skies is sorely in need of: follow-through. Read full review

Justin Lowe

Feb 26, 2013

Approaching the first half of the film fairly conventionally, Stewart then misses the opportunity to capitalize on shifting to more full-on genre mode. Read full review

Mark Olsen

Feb 22, 2013

Really the biggest problem with Dark Skies is that Stewart can never quite decide just what story he is telling — a slow-burn horror parable or paranoid invasion flick — or whether to focus on this character or that, instead struggling to string together scares regardless of how they fit together overall. Read full review

Adam Nayman

Feb 21, 2013

The characters are reluctant to believe in the face of overwhelming evidence, mostly because writer-director Scott Stewart doesn’t want to play his hand too early. By the time the movie is over, it’s easy to see why he kept his cards close to his chest. He’s not really holding anything. Read full review

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User Reviews

davidjden

Dec 15, 2014

You'll stumble upon this movie, on a cable movie channel. You'll think, "this looks silly," but you'll keep watching, and soon you can't stop watching because even though (you tell yourself) the plot is silly the acting is so earnest. The movie suddenly ends, and you think, ok, that wasYou'll stumble upon this movie, on a cable movie channel. You'll think, "this looks silly," but you'll keep watching, and soon you can't stop watching because even though (you tell yourself) the plot is silly the acting is so earnest. The movie suddenly ends, and you think, ok, that was mildly disturbing, but still, a silly premise. Yawn, time for bed. But this movie embeds itself into your subconscious. And in six months you realize, it is one of the most terrifying movies you've ever seen. This movie taps into something we can't describe but we know has something to do with why we are afraid of the dark and the abyss. It is literally chilling.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

horcrux2007

Apr 7, 2015

Dark Skies was an extremely surprising and very scary movie. It's like a haunted house movie turned upside-down. It has a couple of jump scares, a good amount of suspense, and a heavy atmosphere that all come together to create a memorable and terrifying film. Even if the pacing is a littleDark Skies was an extremely surprising and very scary movie. It's like a haunted house movie turned upside-down. It has a couple of jump scares, a good amount of suspense, and a heavy atmosphere that all come together to create a memorable and terrifying film. Even if the pacing is a little off, Dark Skies is going to scare you. It's best not to know anything about this movie before you head in, and definitely watch it in the dark.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

calebowensmall

Jan 23, 2016

Like I've said before, Blumhouse never disappoints. It's a great alien horror film, and the ending makes me want a sequel really badly. The mother is a great actress, and I would love to see her on the screen in a drama, love story, or comedy. Even more horror films! To sum up, this is aLike I've said before, Blumhouse never disappoints. It's a great alien horror film, and the ending makes me want a sequel really badly. The mother is a great actress, and I would love to see her on the screen in a drama, love story, or comedy. Even more horror films! To sum up, this is a well acted and crafted horror film and if you are scared of aliens on earth, this will scare you a bunch.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

theoffice

Feb 23, 2013

I'm generally a fan of alien encounter movies and this one is not bad by any means but not that fantastic a thriller either. Unfortunately the "scares" are mainly a few scenes that make you jump. However, I found the story to be fairly engaging keeping my interest till the end. What keepsI'm generally a fan of alien encounter movies and this one is not bad by any means but not that fantastic a thriller either. Unfortunately the "scares" are mainly a few scenes that make you jump. However, I found the story to be fairly engaging keeping my interest till the end. What keeps this movie from being a higher score in my opinion is that in comparison to other fantastic alien movies like "Signs" it just falls short in the key aspects of a great suspense/thriller with aliens.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

raporgi

Jun 15, 2017

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Signs and Paranormal Activity had a baby. Its a retread plain and simple. the aliens are kinda lame and the budget shows. the breadcrumb trail of the alien presence isnt very interesting, not enough weird hooks like in Signs to lead the viewer along. It also ends like Signs without the aliens having a weakness. its just fair… Expand

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

oliver1h

May 7, 2013

Just boring. Offers nothing new to the genre. Some scenes had tension, but overall falls flat. I hope one day they will make something original in the genre, something that offers a new perspective to the subject. The acting was okay, but the whole movie was dragged out to 97 minutes, yetJust boring. Offers nothing new to the genre. Some scenes had tension, but overall falls flat. I hope one day they will make something original in the genre, something that offers a new perspective to the subject. The acting was okay, but the whole movie was dragged out to 97 minutes, yet everything could be told in 20 minutes. We only see the aliens 5 minutes, and their motivations are totally unclear (they are extraterrestrials so we are not supposed to understand it...but I think their actions should make at least some sense. They can build space ships to travel light years, yet they pranking and scaring humans...) Not recommended.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

Hugi09

Aug 5, 2019

Encore un navet. ! Je n’aime pas de toute façon les films avec des aliènes / extraterrestre

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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