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And Soon The Darkness [1970]


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Fantastic late 60's thriller.
Review date: 2008-07-04 Rating: 10 out of 10

A great, atmospheric, film from Brian Clemens (Thriller) and Terry Nation (Dalek Creator). It aches with late 60's atmos and a terribly cool French setting. Mopeds, murder and mystery. A massively overlooked masterpiece.

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Reviews


This review contains spoliers
Review date: 2008-07-04 Rating: 2 out of 10

Well, I've read a few of the reviews on here and in actual fact that is what convinced me I should rent this highly rated film.

However, I was severely disappointed with this laughable effort. Yes that's right, laughable. Quite what is stunning the other reviewers in to hurling praise upon this overrated inept effort at a thriller I do not know. Have they never encountered a good movie before?

The film is about 2 young girls, Jane (Pamela Franklin) & Cathy (Michele Dotrice) who are on a cycling trip around the French countryside.

After their banal conversations about boys and how bored Cathy is with the trip, they decide to stop for a break. But when Jane wishes to move on, Cathy does not as she is `tired' and so she stays behind.

Hmm. OK, great well-thought-out set up there. I wonder what is going to happen? This is a quaint, naïve little British film made in the 70's so I'm just about willing to `let go' the silly, wafer thin plot and the mundane (verging on the ridiculous) dialogue.

Anyway, we are then introduced to a few dodgy-acting characters. When I say dodgy-acting, I am not questioning the skills of the thespians, but the motives behind why they do and say seemingly odd and irrelevant things. So we meet the supposed `red herring' - a young English-speaking French man on a moped who acts suspiciously like a murderer and pervert, despite (apparently) being innocent. The other characters that we are introduced to are an odd French couple in a small café type place who can not speak English and who just shout and leer strangely at the poor girl, then proceed to have a random argument in front of her (none is which is subtitled, obviously to give the viewer the feeling of isolation that the character is feeling).

This all seems to be a contrived plot element to put us `off the scent', since the behaviour of everyone is so strange and no one is giving Jane any straight answers. However, quite how we could have got on the scent in the first place is a bone of contention since the supposed murderer is not introduced until much, much later. Too late in fact, for this to qualify as a quality "whodunit" because the killer isn't introduced early enough for us to suspect them. In brief - they pop in to the story somewhere late in to the second act as a convenient get out clause due to a lack of potential suspects.

Now, I say `apparent' red herring and `supposed' killer because it is never quite clear in the film's jumbled mess of an anti climatic ending.

As mentioned, the young English speaking French guy is a mixed up character. He is full of lies and various tales and drags the story and suspense out beyond acceptance. He found Cathy's camera and stole the film out of it, to be used as `evidence', then proceeded to destroy it to torment Jane. He then leads her through the woods for what seems like an eternity until she gets scared, attacks him and runs away.

It is only after all this that we are introduced to the `supposed' killer. A police officer who rambles about acting all helpful then at the end suddenly turns and tries to rape Jane.

She is saved of course (I mean, this isn't exactly The Wicker Man, is it?), by the young French man and the audience is kind of going "right...so the killer was...?"

I was left wondering why I had to endure a succession of weird and pointless characters (the red herring guy, the odd French couple, a mental bloke in the police station who shouts and wails his way through his scenes when there is absolutely NO REASON what-so-ever for him to even be in the film at all!) in what feels like a silly & predicable short story that has been padded out to make a feature film.

For those of us that appreciate decent films with characters that have a reason for being there, and hate characters that pop up a convenient times to help the story out of a potential plot hole no matter how late in the film, this is a contrived, camp farce.


Creepy, suspensful and makes great use of its location
Review date: 2008-06-29 Rating: 10 out of 10

One of those movies you don't hear much fuss about, and then you put it on and think 'why not?' A fantastically simple concept is turned into a clever suspense thriller where you are kept guessing until the end. The director uses every trick in the book to pull you along with Jane, played superbly by Franklyn. If you want to analyse it, instead of simply enjoy it, then you can certainly find a few little holes in the plot here and there, but overall, this is a very good job done by the whole team and it does reward you if you just allow yourself to be pulled into its current of suspense. Thoroughly enjoyed it and like someone else has stated, I can see this as prime Hollywood remake material, as they continue their relentless search for untapped old movies to remake. And in a way, I hope it does get remade, just so we can all say 'It is nowhere as good as the quiet little original.' And those hot pants - ooh la la!

A masterclass in misdirection
Review date: 2008-06-05 Rating: 10 out of 10

I bought this on the strength of the other reviews here and I was certainly not disappointed.
After the curiously jaunty title music I was not really expecting such an atmospheric and subtle piece of film making.
This is a master class in misdirection, apprehension and general red-herring-ry without any of it seeming at all out of place within the narrative. You are truly left guessing up until the very last scene (even though you may have your suspicions)

The language barrier between Jane and the locals was an excellent touch, completing the sense of isolation so nicely built by the beautifully bleak and empty locations in rural France.

I have one major gripe with the story but to air it here would be too much of a spoiler. Suffice to say that even a small amount of disclosure can actually enhance trust.... but even so the high-quality of this film's other facets more than makes up for this.
Unbearable tension and a cracking atmosphere make this film a real treat for anyone in search of a quality thriller.


Misleadingly titled.
Review date: 2008-05-06 Rating: 8 out of 10

You don't get to see any darkness. But, a dark atmosphere is conveyed, even in bright sunlight in the middle of the day. Once the story gets off, a real sense of menace is felt. Very absorbing throughout. I knew who the killer was as I'd seen it on tv years ago, but that didn't spoil my enjoyment of this dvd. One that truly has deserved to see the light of day!

May not be 'got' by people who think a movie is rubbish unless it's got over the top special effects from start to finish and loudness and constant action, but this is one of those films that leads you in and keeps you enthralled by the suspense, rather than mesmerised by flashing lights and fast paced but ultimately empty 'action' with all substance and nothing else.

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Michele Dotrice
Pamela Franklin
John Nettleton
Sandor Eles

Creators:
Pamela Franklin (Primary Contributor)
Michele Dotrice (Primary Contributor)

Director(s):

Recording label: Optimum Home Entertainment
Manufacturer: Optimum Home Entertainment
EAN: 5055201800039
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2008-01-28
Audience rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 95 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1970

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