‘Dark Skies’ Review

Release Date: February 22, 2013
Director: Scott Stewart
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Film Pulse Score: 4.5/10

Dark Skies could have been more interesting than it was had the script been better and Scott Stewart not resorted to common, clichéd choices that took the wind of the movie’s sails.  The film is unsure of what it wants to be and how it wants to present the already-done alien visitation and abduction stories of science fiction.  It is at its best when it focuses on the family and their personal foibles; when it introduces the strange phenomenon and alien entities, it takes a turn from which it never recovers.  While it is best categorized as a science fiction film instead of a horror movie, the filmmakers could have learned a lot from 2002’s Signs or 2012’s Sinister – both of which also focused on a family in the midst of strange encounters with something otherworldly.  Unfortunately, this film falls flat, particularly when it attempts to ramp up the suspense and action.

Daniel and Lacy Barrett (Josh Hamilton and Keri Russell) are an all-American couple who lead seemingly ordinary suburban lives with their two boys, Jesse (Dakota Goyo) and Sam (Kadan Rockett).  We learn that Daniel is looking for work after being laid off and Lacy is the current breadwinner working as a real estate agent.  Jesse and Sam are portrayed simply enough:  Jesse is an average pre-pubescent boy on the verge of what being a teenage boy is all about and Sam is an adorable six-year-old who still believes that the Sandman is responsible for bringing sleep to children.  Although the four principal actors do their best to present a relatable family unit, the script lets them down as it creates odd occurrences to which the family responds in ways that are not entirely believable. 

Someone or something enters the house, raiding the fridge and leaving a trail of food to the sliding glass door.  Later, Lacy wakes to find food and plates stacked in the kitchen in a neatly organized arrangement.  When little Sam joins her in the kitchen, he explains that he dreamed the “Sandman” is responsible.  We will later see a drawing of Sam with the so-called Sandman – a tall, black entity who is holding his hand.  Daniel and Lacy reinstall their security system and even install security cameras which seem necessary in films since the successes of The Blair Witch Project and Paranormal Activity and their “found footage” hooks.  At some point, of course, the cameras do catch something which supports the Barretts’ fears – something inhuman is entering the house and creating disturbances.

As is often the case in a certain line of films, the Barretts take to the internet to find out what might be responsible for their circumstances.  Lacy is convinced that something sinister is afoot, particularly after three flocks of starlings come from three different directions and crash into the house.  She finds a local “expert” (J. K. Simmons) in alien abduction to calmly, rationally explains what has been happening to the Barretts – they are being studied by the “Greys” – a race of aliens who have long been visiting Earth and are responsible for abductions, particularly that of children.  His advice to Daniel and Lacy is to fight back in order to keep their boys safe.  They face an uphill battle as suspicions mount against the couple when Jesse and Sam are found to have marks on their bodies.  Of course, people assume the parents are responsible while Daniel, Lacy, and the audience know better.  Although the numerous visitations and the family members’ blackouts are precipitating events, it is Simmons’ character’s warning that is the final jumpstart before the inevitable showdown of the Barretts vs. the Greys.

The film is pretty much unsalvageable by the time the showdown begins.  Any hope for a great third act quickly vanishes when Stewart chooses to show what he does and reduces his movie to a lowest-common denominator version of filmmaking.  He talks down to the audience and the actors find themselves in an untenable situation.  He engages in blatant manipulation with no real payoff.  Without giving anything away, I must comment that the last act and the film’s finale are let downs and feel forced and unfulfilling.  Though the film and its cast have some nice moments, these do not last very long – they certainly do not last long enough to carry the film for its total running time.