The Deep Dark’ Finds Something to Fear Underground
One of humanity’s many achievements over the years has been exploring all the “corners” of the world, from the deepest jungles to the highest mountains. Our desire for more knows no bounds, so we’re still working to explore the entire ocean floor and every remaining nook and cranny we can find. Not content with the places that exist, though, means we’re also out there making new ones. Digging deep holes into the earth. Carving our way through dirt, rock, and history itself. And we’re not always going to like what we find. Films like The Descent and As Above, So Below have mined both scares and atmosphere from our claustrophobic intentions, but plenty others haven’t found the horror. The Deep Dark is the latest contender, and while a low budget keeps its ambition from tipping over into greatness, it’s still delivers chills and a solid creature feature down in the dark.
After the war, France’s industry was booming. The mining business in particular is pushing people deeper and deeper in search of greater energy resources, but for one group of miners, that quest will soon come to an end. The Professor (Jean-Hugues Anglade) persuades the management to allow him to go into the deep sea and lead a concrete excavation. He seems to have reason to believe that a treasure of both financial and cultural significance lies at an altitude of 1,000 feet, but problems quickly arise as soon as he and his miners reach their destination. to start. Roland (Samuel Le Bien), The head miner, Roland (Samuel Le Bihan), isn’t thrilled about any of it, but the men, including newcomer Amir (Amir El Kacem), see only the promised bonus pay at the end of the tunnel. Unfortunately for them, bad luck, poor choices, and an ancient creature with bloodlust on its mind mean their end may come sooner than expected.
At first visible only in fragments and shadows, the creatures of Turi soon revealed themselves in all their glory and became a visual triumph. The beast hints at ancient Lovecraftian origins and is brought to life entirely through practical effects. It’s essentially a large puppet, like a mad refugee from Sesame Street, bent on crushing heads and tearing flesh, and the results are a dark delight to the senses. The downside is travel restrictions, which is the only area where the low budget really affects you. The range and speed of these movements makes them feel almost puppet-like, and that alone may be enough to distract some viewers. But the more forgiving among us will focus on appreciating our tremendous strengths over our disappointing weaknesses.
In Tulli’s screenplay, Deep Dark offers a bit of commentary on things like imperialism and class, but the main point here is just survival. The small ensemble does a good job overall, and even the typically caricatured characters are convincing in their greed and fear. We also get a glimpse of something big in terms of story. Although it’s not a sequel, it’s clear that there’s something more apocalyptic about this monstrous threat than you might expect. Deep Dark may not be great or original, and there are other films that have executed similar ideas better, but there’s no denying the effectiveness of horror. Darkness, confined spaces, hollow solitude that exists far below the surface, and creatures intent on tearing you apart, climbing out of corpses, and speaking through severed heads all add up to a truly immersive experience. Offers. cooler.