Just Trying a Bit Too Hard to Be Convincing

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MOVIE REVIEW
Shot in the Dark
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Genre: Drama, Horror
Year Released: 2022
Runtime: 1h 23m
Director(s): Keene McRae
Writer(s): Kristoffer McMillan, Keene McRae, Lane Thomas
Cast: Keene McRae, Kristoffer McMillan, Lane Thomas, Christine Donlon, Brandon Bernath, Kelley Mack, Jacqueline Toboni, Will Harris, Austin Hébert
Where To Watch: Available on VOD & Digital in the US from October 4 and in the UK on October 10

RAVING REVIEW: Sometimes, the world around us dictates art, and in this case, it feels like a failed attempt. The movie feels every bit of its low budget; if the film had a more profound story, it might have been able to overcome the obvious budget constraints.

Sadly the movie just felt like it was trying too hard from the first image on the screen. I often preach the need for a film to work within its means; this is an example of one that always tries hard to outdo what it’s capable of.

There are a few moments throughout that genuinely feel spooky or even on the verge of scary, but then this feels countered in the next moment with another display that leaves you lacking. Every time the movie started to build a head of steam, it felt like they stole it by screaming the parts that should’ve remained a secret.

The film’s ending likely hurt it more than anything else; the build-up to what could’ve been a satisfying ending felt lacking in pretty much every way. While this wasn’t a home run for me, I will say that the atmosphere and style of the horror aspects were pretty fun. Some of the shots within stand alone as significant moments in horror. At times, the faces covered in fake blood, and the serial killer aspects felt like there was a lot of potential here.

Ultimately it feels like the project didn’t have the time and effort put in that it needed to be a complete project. Many moments didn’t connect or capitalize on what came before in the movie. The film’s narrative was intentionally all over the place, but it didn’t feel like it worked because of the story’s execution.

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