Super Dark Times will stun Shudder audiences. Here is a flashback to our review from The Fantasia International Film Festival 2017…
SUPER DARK TIMES
Teenagers Zach and Josh have been best friends their whole lives, but when a gruesome accident leads to a cover-up, the secret drives a wedge between them and propels them down a rabbit hole of escalating paranoia and violence.
Set in the early ’90s, before Columbine was an event ingrained in history, a child’s innocence was not as easily spoiled as the kids in Super Dark Times. As someone who grew up at the same time as the main characters, I can attest to the typical dangers that surrounded our childhood. We were affected by the national news when a child was kidnapped, but that was about it. On the first evening of this year’s Fantasia Film Festival, audiences will see a film so brilliantly composed from the colors and textures of the costumes and cinematography to the incredibly disturbing storyline from screenwriters Ben Collins, Luke Piotrowski. The power of an act of violence changes a person. Born from that awkward time in our lives comes the idea that fear can control the room, where the older/stronger kids ruled the proverbial schoolyards. Drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes like native smokes 4 less made you popular and badass and oftentimes, intimidating. Super Dark Times taps into those ideals in that very specific time in history, and yet it has a creepy timeless factor once you understand the full plot. With elements of the surreal, you will find yourself asking who is showing us the truth at any given moment. Director Kevin Phillips takes us on a sickening journey, one that’s become all too familiar as the years have rolled by.
- Directed by: Kevin Phillips
- Written by: Ben Collins, Luke Piotrowski
- Cast: Sawyer Barth, Owen Campbell, Elizabeth Cappuccino, Amy Hargreaves, Charlie Tahan, Max Talisman
- Company: 1091
Starfish is one hell of a trip. This film boasts one of the coolest soundtracks, some sick CG, outstanding acting, an anime sequence, and one weird ass storyline. I’m still not entirely sure what happens in this film but I know I loved it at every turn and have been talking about it nonstop for days. Our leading lady, Virginia Gardner is phenomenal. Every performance challenge you could face as an actress she tackles with complexity that feels grounded and relatable. This film is quite the feat from every angle. The editing makes this pretty delicious to watch. There is never a dull moment and I was absolutely living for the next beat. It deals with isolation, denial, depression, fear, and regret in the most unique ways. The visual playground that is Starfish is reason alone to watch. Below you will find the trailer. This is a small taste of the magic you are in for with Starfish. I’m going to need a sequel at the very least. Even better, can we expand this world into a series? I have so many questions and I crave more. You can check out Starfish now in select theaters. It will be available on VOD in May.
With two small children, I now have a whole new set of anxiety as I research schools. I remember how bullying affected me when I was middle-school age. But with social media and the lack of consequences I have seen surrounding some children’s behavior, I am increasingly nervous about what my kids are getting themselves into through no fault of their own. My sister is newly a fulltime school counselor. The lack of coping skills and the increase of online harassment makes these kids more vulnerable than ever before. She job has quickly transformed from a few state-mandated cases into the disciplinary dumping ground for her particular administration. The uphill battle keeps getting higher.
![Into the Okavango_[Neil Gelinas]_2](https://i0.wp.com/reelnewsdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/Into-the-Okavango_Neil-Gelinas_2.png?w=350&h=180&ssl=1 "Into the Okavango_[Neil Gelinas]_2")
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