From the looks of it, DARK ENCOUNTER (2019) could have gone one of two ways--cool, capably-rendered science fiction thriller, or typical SyFy Channel-level tomfoolery that's perversely fun in spite of itself.
Fortunately, producer-writer-director Carl Strathie (SOLIS) has worked hard to ensure this solid effort takes the high road and stays there till the emotionally resonant ending.
It begins with what we assume is an abduction, when parents Olivia (Laura Fraser, A KNIGHT'S TALE, VANILLA SKY) and Ray (Mel Raido, THE DISAPPOINTMENTS ROOM) return to their rural two-storey home to find that their young daughter Maisie has gone missing.
One year later, a memorial service attended by close family and friends is their first painful step toward accepting the fact that their daughter will never return.
Once these characters are introduced and the setting and situation established, we watch their volatile interactions play out much like a theater play in real-time, rife with blame and recriminations and bitterness, until suddenly something of such utter strangeness occurs that everyone is quickly drawn into the most baffling and mind-warping mystery of their entire lives.
This is where DARK ENCOUNTER takes on some of the feel of Steven Spielberg's UFO classic CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND, even to the extent of practically duplicating some of the shots.
But where Spielberg's aliens seemed to grow increasingly benign as his story progressed, this prolonged close encounter within the house and its surrounding woods grows more threatening, more inexplicable, and more downright scary as the family seems to be under siege from forces that can invade at will and instill a frantic sense of sheer terror against which these people are helpless to defend themselves.
Just when we think the story must surely be approaching its end, suddenly its the next day and a new light shines on the mysteries of the previous night. But even with a trusted local policeman investigating recent events--which now include even more disappearances--and more people witnessing strange sights in the area, the nightmare isn't over for Olivia and Ray and what's left of their family.
Strathie handles it all expertly and keeps the tension high from the very first signs of unidentified lights in the woods all the way to the startling revelations in the film's final minutes.
He wisely refrains from showing too much, and, except for a couple of shots that are just too on-the-nose (and look like something from one of those SyFy Channel flicks), we're allowed to let our imaginations participate fully in the scariest scenes.
In addition to the CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND references, the latter half of the film features its own version of 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY's "stargate" sequence and should satisfy fans of both science fiction and horror.
DARK ENCOUNTER's appeal, however, isn't limited to fans of those genres. Its human qualities are such that most viewers will relate to the plight of these characters and its eventual resolution, which involves some deeply emotional developments capable of tugging the heartstrings even as our minds are being pleasantly warped.
PROGRAM INFORMATION
VOD: Available on Apple iTunes and other Leading Digital Providers
DVD: Available at Amazon and Walmart.com
Directed/Written by: Carl Strathie
Starring: Laura Fraser, Mel Raido, Alice Lowe, Sid Phoenix, Grant Masters, Vincent Regan, Spike White
Produced by: Charlette Kilby, Alan Latham
Distribution: 4Digital Media
Run Time: 98 Minutes
Rating: NR
Genre: SciFi, Supernatural, Thriller
Aspect Ratio: 16x9 (2.39:1)
Audio: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo and 5.1 Surround
Language: English
Subtitles: English SDH
Bonus: Trailer
OFFICIAL HASHTAG: #DarkEncounterMovie
Arriving On VOD And Digital HD On Leading Digital Platforms And DVD On January 7, 2020
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