Grimmfest (2021) review: ‘Shot In The Dark’ has a brilliant and bloody storytelling structure.

SHOT IN THE DARK

Two years ago, William Langston made a mistake that would affect the course of his life. Now, with a killer loose in his home town and his circle of friends falling away one at a time, William faces his greatest fears as well as his own mortality.


Shot In The Dark is emotional and physical torture porn driven by incel behavior and extreme toxic masculinity. But, it’s also a relationship film. Keene McRae and Lane Thomas’ screenplay slowly gives you insight into William’s circle of friends and how their social dynamics have decayed over time. The small-town mayhem takes a personal turn very early on. While some minute details still left me with questions, I was captivated by the script’s structure.

Austen Hubert plays the role of Josh Ferrel. He gives a nuanced performance. Christine Donlon, as Lili, hits you right in the heart. She’s charming and earnest. You are invested in the relationship between William and Lili. Kristoffer McMillan, as William, is a fully fleshed-out, honorable man. This character is the life-breath of this film. Depression has consumed him, and that darkness becomes his fatal flaw. His tragic backstory is the catalyst for a psychopath. McMillan, who is also a co-writer, owns every frame.

GRIMMFEST 2021 audiences will be taken aback by this film, no doubt about it. The ending will shock and infuriate you. Shot In The Dark is a hell of a feature debut for Keene McRae. With a script like this, we’ll all be clambering for whatever comes next.


[Available October 15, 2021, 1:30 – 11:30 PM] Watch now online…