A Surreal Dive Into Small-Town Secrets

Read Time:4 Minute, 35 Second

MOVIE REVIEW
Dark My Light
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Genre: Sci-Fi, Thriller
Year Released: 2024, 2025
Runtime: 1h 29m
Director(s): Neal Dhand
Writer(s): Neal Dhand
Cast: Albert Jones, Keesha Sharp, Tom Lipinski, G.J. Thompson, Steven Sean Garland
Where to Watch: arrives on all VOD platforms Tuesday, May 6, 2025

RAVING REVIEW: DARK MY LIGHT is a film that doesn't just ask for your attention—it demands your full immersion. From the first frame to the last, it challenges viewers to question what they see and hear. The narrative centers on Detective Mitchell Morse, portrayed by Albert Jones, who is tasked with investigating a series of murders in a seemingly peaceful coastal town. However, a discovery on the beach sets off a chain of events that not only complicates the case but also threatens to unravel Morse's grip on reality. His life is equally turbulent, with a strained relationship with his estranged wife, Emily (Keesha Sharp), and the arrival of a new partner, Dreyfus Trier (Tom Lipinski), whose past is shrouded in controversy.

Director Neal Dhand's approach is unconventional. He crafts a narrative that shifts genres and tones, reflecting Morse's deteriorating mental state. The film focuses on mood and atmosphere over traditional storytelling. The cinematography, shot on 16mm film by Charles Ackley Anderson, enhances this mood, capturing the town's exteriors in juxtaposition with the protagonist's internal chaos.

While the stylistic decisions might seem minimalistic on the surface, they’re layered with intention. The texture of the 16mm format doesn’t just give the film structure—it reinforces a sense of fragmentation and decay that mirrors the protagonist’s unraveling. Dialogue is often clipped or strangely paced, creating a lingering tension in even mundane exchanges. Dhand doesn’t lean on overt exposition to establish tone; instead, the unease builds through carefully chosen silences and edits that arrive without warning. It's not about confusion for confusion's sake—it's about embodying the mental state of a character who’s unsure of what’s real anymore.

The performances anchor the film's dreamlike story. Jones delivers a nuanced portrayal of a man teetering on the edge, while Sharp brings intensity to Emily, conveying a mix of frustration and lingering affection. Lipinski's Dreyfus adds another layer of complexity, his character's ambiguous intentions keeping both Morse and the audience on edge.

One of the film's strengths lies in its ability to maintain a consistent tone amidst its genre shifts. Dhand's script avoids exposition, instead immersing the viewer in Morse's fragmented reality. This approach demands active engagement, as the narrative offers few clear answers, inviting multiple interpretations.

The film's refusal to provide concrete resolutions can be both its strength and its weakness, depending on one's appetite for open-ended storytelling. Some may find the lack of clarity frustrating, while others may appreciate the film's commitment to its enigmatic vision.

The film also plays with structure in a way that keeps viewers unsettled, sometimes withholding context just long enough to heighten a sense of paranoia. While the nonlinear progression can be disorienting, it reinforces the unstable psychological terrain of the characters. This deliberate disruption of flow may test some viewers’ patience, but it adds an intentional layer of disarray that fits the story’s tone. If there’s an area where the approach could be more effective, it’s in providing stronger emotional anchors during the film’s more abstract stretches.

Thematically, DARK MY LIGHT delves into the human desire for control and the fear of confronting the unknown. Morse's journey reflects a struggle against forces beyond his comprehension, mirroring broader existential anxieties that are prevalent in our society. The film doesn't offer easy answers but instead presents a meditation on the fragility of perception and the complexities of human relationships.

DARK MY LIGHT is a bold exploration of psychological disintegration and the elusiveness of truth. Its atmospheric storytelling, performances, and depth make it a noteworthy entry in contemporary genre cinema. While its ambiguity may challenge some viewers, those willing to engage with its complexities will find a film that lingers in the mind.

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[photo courtesy of ETHOS RELEASING]

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