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Overall Rating : 4/10
Directed By : Chris Kazmier
Daniel Baldwin (Paparazzi)
Sunny Doench (Remember the Daze)
James C. Burns
Alisha Seaton (The Fourth Kind)
Supplied By : Phase 4 Films
Film Reviewed By : Rick L. Blalock
Date Reviewed : January. 17, 2012
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| PLOT A group of women wake up in a cold cement basement. Drugged and terrified they find themselves captive to a depraved psychopath whose blood-lust and insanity knows no bounds. Police Detective Balasco and psychiatrist Dr. Metcalfe team up in a desperate attempt to locate the girls and their soon to be murderer a serial killer known as Ghost. But time is running out as Ghost's sick experiments begin to leave the girls tortured beyond recognition. To survive, the girls must band together in a last attempt to save themselves from a fate far worse than death. | ||||
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| THE REVIEW In A DARKER REALITY, a prolific serial killer, who calls himself, "Ghost" has been preying upon the women of the city. With the body count now up to five, a hot shot detective named Alex Belasco is on the case. But has his investigation proceeds, Ghost is more and more elusive, while still being up to no good. To help in the case, Belasvco seeks help from female Psychiatrist, Dr. Jessie Metcale. The two of them are startled. when s victim is found to be alive, wrapped up in a trash bag that Ghost had attached a letter to, in which he addressed to Belasco Through the surviving victim, whose name Carey, Belasco and Metcalfe gain valuable insight into the world and doings of the infamous ghost, and with the help of another convicted con by the name of Quail, the two professionals ince that much closer to finding the killer. But they soon find out that the closer that they get to finding him, the more danger that they find themselves in. Shot in 2008, A DARKER REALITY is the followup to Director Chris Kazmier's film from 2006, that was simply titled, A DARK REALITY. Although I have not seen the previous film, it appears that A DARKER REALITY is more of a re-do, or re-imagining if you will, rather than a continuation sequel. However, both of the films star Daniel Baldwin, as he steps into the role of killer, portraying "Ghost". And also, from what I have read about the 2006 film, it seems as though that film took a cue from the original SAW film, in the way that it made it's primary focus upon Ghost's female victims for the entire film. Here, Chris Kazmier, continues with the spirit of the original, only this time he chooses to expand his script to include sub focus upon the law enforcement who are on Ghost's trail. So in other words, this time around, the film's final result is even more similar that that of the SAW series, and it's Police procedure plottings, make this one feel very cliche. It is still a lot like SAW in the way that Ghost's motives and actions are played out, he hand his handicapped brother, Newt, even like to play torturous games with the victims, so in other words, one does not have to think too hard to figure out, just where the film's inspiration came from. But with this put aside, it does feature some pretty nice gore effects in certain areas of the film, and I never thought I would ever say this, but Daniel Baldwin here as the killer, is actually pretty good. Baldwin's performance definitely boasts this one up ever so slightly. In the film, "Ghost" is one of those talkative killers who is witty, and without some of the lines that he spouts here, the truth is, this film would be a lot more dull than it already is. The truth is that Daniel Baldwin is the only one who brings something memorable to the film, and while it might not be a huge contribution, at least it's something. The Detective and Psychiatrist, Detective Belasco, and Dr. Metcalfe, who are meant to steer the film along as its main characters, fail tom do much of anything. Both James C. Burns(Belasco) and Sunny Doench(Metcalfe), respectively, deliver performances that are just too dry. Not once does the viewer get a sense that the two are truly passionate about the case. Their attitudes are emotionless and really deadpan as to say the actors portraying the characters, are just merely "going through the motions", so to speak. I also should touch upon the women who collectively portray the victims of 'Ghost" in the film. Talk about overacting, not one of the "victims" performances are at any time believable in the film. Through out the film's 87 run time, we alternate from from investigation and victims, and each time we cut back to the victims for the whole duration it seems as if the women are in hysterics and/or screaming at the top of their lungs, making them painful scenes to sit through. I know that the role of victim is sometimes just a throwaway/extra part, but come on, get someone in there that can be at least semi-believable. There's not much more left to say other than that A DARKER REALITY is just another SAW clone, that if better executed and cast, could have possibly been a much different, and much better film. In my opinion the film feels like nothing more then a bunch of odd end ideas that have been thrown together, and the film's plot never really has any real sense of direction. | ||||
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| GORE
METER 4.5/10 Various slashings via various tools, a victim is skinned alive, another sewn back together, and a few are chopped up. And of course there is a good amount of blood splatter here and there. | ||||
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| MUSICAL
SCORE 4/10 Atmosphere and suspense scoring is used through out. |
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| OVERALL
IMPRESSION OF THE FILM As mentioned, I feel as though A DARKER REALITY is a film consisted of a bunch of ideas thrown around within a loosely written script. Also, as mentioned, I never saw the previous A DARK REALITY, but I could just imagine it being nothing but more of the same except for the fact that its budget being a little smaller. Although A DARKER REALITY isn't necessarily an awful film, it is one whose script never takes us anywhere(however the ending, I will admit is slightly clever). The only thing that stands out about this film is Daniel Baldwin's performance as the vile killer, and honestly, I just do not know if that is enough to warrant a recommendation. | ||||
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