Search - The Darkroom on DVD

Great actors, interesting concept

Jason | NC, USA | 01/14/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The movie opens with a man (Reed Diamond) who had something horrible happen to him, he just doesn't know what, he cannot remember his name nor his past. After being a tester for a new drug, he starts having horrible visions of a mud-like monster. He meets a kid name Stanley, and they both become friends. The rest of the movie is about the man's, played by Reed Diamond, journey to recover his lost memories, and Stanley's quest to find out what his father is up too.

Lucy Lawless --everyones favorite warrior princess/Cylon -- plays the alcoholic mother, a victim of abuse, which is quite a different role than we are used to seeing from Lawless; she does it well. Greg Grunberg --Alias's Eric Weiss, and Heroes Matt Parkman, also plays a very good, and different role than he has played in the past. In this movie he is the sadistic husband of Lucy Lawless. The acting is great, the plot isn't the most original, nor all that scary, but is entertaining, and stays interesting throughout its length.


This is a straight to DVD release. As such it doesn't have that high of a budget, you should not be expecting a masterpiece, but this movie does deliver quite a bit. I'm giving this four stars because the actor's performances are great and the concept is intriguing. Fans of Lucy Lawless and Greg Grunberg should have no problems nor regrets buying this DVD.

I don't want to give to much away, but if you enjoyed films like "The Jacket", "The Butterfly Effect" or the directors other movie "Room 6" you should pick this up."

A thriller of a movie with a twist.

Jean Houses | Nipomo, CA USA | 02/06/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I purchased Darkroom anticipating another Boogeyman type movie, you know a horror, scary type movie with laughs. Well it's more a pyscho drama with a whodunit twist instead, even the title of the movie is a bit of a mystery. I did enjoy the movie, Michael does a good job with keeping you engaged in trying to figure out the mystery disappearances of several characters. Lucy does a very credible job of neglected wife considering this role is a huge departure from anything she's ever done. The main character has some major issues to resolve in his life and in the end I'm still not sure if he resolves them. Overall, good acting, a few scary moments, and a twist at the end to keep you guessing."

Definetly See This

Casey C. Corpier | 02/10/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

"What we have here is the interesting story of a man who has been in a mental institution for the past 15 yeas after he was found on the side of the road covered in blood and no memory of who he was. He later escapes and befriends a young boy who needs help dealing with his problems with his step father (played by the mind reading cop from Heroes) and an alcoholic mother (played by Xena star Lucy Lawless who I barely recognized) ooh and there is that pesky mud covered monster that the guy keeps on seeing that is hacking everyone around him to death and a twist that you can really see coming.

The truth is I really liked this flick It has everything that I really enjoy. The main thing is the fact that there were no cheesy effects and they got aot on names to be in the flick that helped the movie and I likes seeing the cop from Heroes play a villain. Now the only drawback is the surprise ending let's face it we live in the era of flicks like the Sixth Sense and Fight Club where we see the shocking twist and when it is not built up we can see it from a mile away. they made one mistake that gave it away but if you're not looking at it as a critic you may miss it. Besides that it was a really good flick and I enjoyed it.

There are also some good features on the DVD for example the making of Featurette that does contain spoilers but they do give you a disclaimer before the DVD starts as well as some deleted scenes that made me wonder why they were cut from the film but they may have hurt the flow of he script.

I have to also mention that this flick was produced by Mind fire Entertainment that I am going to have to give a call about a job when I go out to LA this year. The company includes Ellie Cornell and yes she does have a small part in the film who are doing really well after the film Free Enterprise and House of the Dead...Ok that one wasn't too good but this one made up for it

4 Dead Bodies
3 Breasts
1 Beast
15 Gallons Blood
Throat Slashing
Throat Ripping
3 Stars
Check it out"

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Michael Butts | Martinsburg, WV USA | 01/06/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"THE DARK ROOM is a stylish, brooding little thriller that is original and well performed. Even though the movie has a large gaping plot hole (e.g., how could someone at age 15 disappear and apparently no one searched for him?), it maintains its interest and has a surprising, although predictable, finish.
Reed Diamond stars as a man who has been institutionalized for 15 years and has no memory of his life up to that point. He is given a new experimental drug which apparently doesn't work so he escapes, desperate to find his identity.
He befriends a 15 year old boy named Stanley (Shawn Pyfrom) who lives with his mother (an unrecognizable Lucy Lawless) and her brutish husband (Greg Grunberg), who is the boy's stepfather. Grunberg seems to be a camera nut, very protective of his dark room. Stanley enlists Diamond's help in finding out where his stepfather goes at night.
The film has an eerie atmosphere and Diamond and Pyfrom are quite good. There is a frightening monster presence, and overall, THE DARK ROOM is refreshingly different in today's cookie cutter horror films."