THE DARKEST HOUR Pre-Release Thread

Looks like shit.  I'm out.

Lightning monsters. 

Not sure if in.

I don't expect it to be good, but I find it strangely enticing. Something about it - certainly not the effects or cast of attractive college students, so I guess it's just the premise - makes me think of 50s/60s alien invasion sci-fi like DAY OF THE TRIFFIDS, the George Pal WAR OF THE WORLDS, QUATERMASS, etc. Invisible electricity monsters seem like something from that era, though I doubt that's what they're going for. It's at least clever enough to offer some fun possibilities for a survival/action type movie.

On the other hand, I haven't liked anything Timur Bekmambetov has made, nor did I like director Chris Gorak's first film, RIGHT AT YOUR DOOR, so the chances of the film delivering on its already modest potential are slim. I doubt it's something I'd see in theaters, unless it miraculously gets good reviews.

Rachael Taylor. Alien Invasion in Russia.

I am in.

This looks like something I would absolutely see if it opened in mid-January.   On Christmas Day, though, I've still got too many "real" movies to see.  

Emile Hirsch fired his agent after Speed Racer, hope he's happier with the new guy. Really, the only thing about this film that caught my attention is that he and Max Minghella are in it, which is a little disappointing, even though I have a genuine affection for silly sci-fi junk.

I can't work up the enthusiasm to see this in the theater.  It looks so devoid of atmosphere.

And superficially, it looks pretty brightly lit for a film called "Darkest Hour"

Quote:

Originally Posted by JacknifeJohnny 

Emile Hirsch fired his agent after Speed Racer, 

What a jerk!

I get a slight Vanishing on 7th Street vibe from the trailer.

Ha ha, ouch.  Not really all that similar though honestly.  Invisible "bad guys" and disappearing/disintegrating I guess.

If we're lucky this could be the next Dragon Wars.

I am somewhat interested by the idea that, while these guys are all trying to stay alive, it looks like these aliens have already fucked up Russia FOR GOOD. Also, there's something vaguely proton-pack-ish about the weapons these guys use.

Anything sci-fi I'll give a try. Must be a good movie considering the timing of this release.

Nah, just counter-programing

This looks like a weird action movie take on an science fiction short that I read a lo-ong time ago, where energy based aliens that were only detectable as radio waves and ate electricity and atomic energy show up and basically force humanity back to pre-industrial revolution level technology.  They were otherwise completely benign in the story, so no disintegrating dogs and policemen, or lightning tentacles.

Anyone planning to catch it this week? Looks like a decent way to spend 90mins.

Guess that's no, it's barely even been reviewed.

The AV Club gave it an "F". Guess i'll catch this on cable instead someday.

Quote:

Originally Posted by felix 

Anyone planning to catch it this week? Looks like a decent way to spend 90mins.

The things I can do in the space of 90mins. that far exceed the category of "decent" are nigh infinite. What was the pitch for this movie? "It's totally different than any alien invasion movie before...it's in Russia...and their fucking invisible!"

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fafhrd 

This looks like a weird action movie take on an science fiction short that I read a lo-ong time ago, where energy based aliens that were only detectable as radio waves and ate electricity and atomic energy show up and basically force humanity back to pre-industrial revolution level technology.  They were otherwise completely benign in the story, so no disintegrating dogs and policemen, or lightning tentacles.

I believe that story was by Thomas M Disch, and was titled "Mankind under the leash" or something like that. He also wrote a great short novel called "The Genocides". It's an alien invasion story where the aliens win!

Saw this last night because...whatever, I guess. And the response is...whatever...I guess. It's not Skyline bad, oh dear god no, but it's just kinda...is. It's boring. And holy shit, what a flat looking movie. It's odd, but when the aliens show up, I lost a lot of interest. The set up of the characters was fun (poor Max Minghella, 2 years, 2 internet properties stolen from him!) but as soon as we're invaded everyone becomes different and we're in alien survival mode. I would've much preferred if they stayed locked in a back room for days and just talked about stuff. I used to think aliens made everything better. I don't think that anymore.

And I'm pretty sure the aliens are from DOOM. Floating flaming head skull things.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doc Happenin 

Saw this last night because...whatever, I guess. And the response is...whatever...I guess. It's not Skyline bad, oh dear god no, but it's just kinda...is. It's boring. And holy shit, what a flat looking movie. It's odd, but when the aliens show up, I lost a lot of interest. The set up of the characters was fun (poor Max Minghella, 2 years, 2 internet properties stolen from him!) but as soon as we're invaded everyone becomes different and we're in alien survival mode. I would've much preferred if they stayed locked in a back room for days and just talked about stuff. I used to think aliens made everything better. I don't think that anymore.

 

And I'm pretty sure the aliens are from DOOM. Floating flaming head skull things.

Is Hirsch able to rise above the material in the slightest? Cause I can't really believe he's in this flick in the first place personally. Dude needs to fire his agent.

I'd literally heard nothing about this movie until posters started appearing on virtually every tram in Melbourne a week or so ago. It's a particularly ugly poster as well, basically this image only the title is three times bigger, and three times as orange. The whole thing's a big brown-and-orange mess. What genius in Marketing approved the Curry Shart colour scheme?

He already did. Fired his last agent after Speed Racer, the new guy got him this. I'm sure Hirsch is happy about that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Workyticket 

 

 

I'd literally heard nothing about this movie until posters started appearing on virtually every tram in Melbourne a week or so ago. It's a particularly ugly poster as well, basically this image only the title is three times bigger, and three times as orange. The whole thing's a big brown-and-orange mess. What genius in Marketing approved the Curry Shart colour scheme?

 

Five people appear to be looking at four different things. Minghella's just arrived.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JacknifeJohnny 

He already did. Fired his last agent after Speed Racer, the new guy got him this. I'm sure Hirsch is happy about that.

Dudes Sean Penns poster boy and one of the most promising young actors of his generation - he doesn't need this gods-awful shite.

Everyone has to pay the bills and Into The Wild was four years ago. Choosing the right genre picture to boost your numbers and profile is a very difficult thing to do, some fine actors have buried their careers because they did big, stupid genre films that no one liked (Ryan Reynolds has basically fucked himself), Emile Hirsch is headed down that same road unless he wises up and catches a fucking break.