‘THE STRANGE DARK’ (2026) Comes to Digital on January 16

Filmmaker Chris Messineo’s award-winning sci-fi thriller, THE STRANGE DARK, comes to digital platforms this Friday. After hitting the festival circuit with 27 festival selections, 34 award nominations, and 13 wins, including Best Feature, Best Thriller, Best Screenplay, and multiple Audience Award honors, at home audiences can experience a tale about trust, family, and outer space. The film follows Susan, a mother, English teacher, and stage actress, who finds herself caught between her estranged husband and the mysterious strangers at her front door.

 

While grading papers, Susan’s quiet night gets weird when her husband shows up in a panic. He explains that through his secretive research at Double Star Accounting, he can now predict the future. Edgar shares that his co-workers are after his knowledge and that Susan and their daughter, Taylor, are in danger. This sounds preposterous to her until two aggressive individuals knock on her front door demanding to know where Edgar is. As they threaten her family, Susan must decide who to believe.

Messineo delivers a nonlinear script in seven parts that undeniably keeps the audience engaged. While I think the film comes off as more friendly than intended, the 84-minute runtime and screenplay structure give it a pass. The Dark Star Accounting team is heavily Men in Black-coded, but on the less funny, more dangerous side. The film’s success hinges on the performances of Nili Bassman and Caleb Scott. They have a solid chemistry as a couple going through an amicable divorce. Bassman’s patience and mama bear instincts read totally authentic, given the sci-fi circumstances. Scott is genuinely intriguing, walking a line between genius and insane like a pro.

 

THE STRANGE DARK is a film I would recommend for ages 13 and up. I think it’s a particularly fun watch for anyone interested in space, a penchant for mystery novels, and a good excuse to wrangle your kids on the couch for a family movie night.