Lights Out

LIGHTS OUT

Director : David F. Sandberg

Year : 2016

Genre : Horror

Rating : ***1/2

Based on his hugely popular short movie of the same name, David F. Sandbergs 'Lights Out' is a satisfyingly effective supernatural psycho-horror that may utilise the same genre tropes we have all come to recognise but a roster of impressive performances, an intelligent script and a genuinely unnerving monster allow it to rise above its outward conventionality. 

The film, which bears more than a few fleeting resemblances to 2014's 'The Babadook' focuses on a grieving and dysfunctional American family whose members are all being haunted by the same horrifying entity that lurks and stalks in the shadows and while it may not be as inventive or as emotionally driven as Jennifer Kent's far superior predecessor, 'Lights Out' still manages to stand head and shoulders above it's many modern horror counterparts thanks in most part to the talents of it's young yet talented cast. 

At the films centre is Teresa Palmer ('Warm Bodies') who is absolutely wonderful here as the spunky and determined teenage daughter trying to conciliate the growing chaos while Golden Globe nominee Maria Bello is very convincing as the mentally damaged mother who may hold the secret to the existence of the terrifying creature that is terrorising her young family. Even the boyfriend character, usually the weakest of the standard horror archetypes, is very well portrayed and written here - injected with a great deal of personality and likability by 'CSI : Miami' star and Danny Sexbang lookalike Alexander DiPersia. 

As a horror film, 'Lights Out' is a fun, if not completely adequate affair. It isn't particularly frightening and while the movie certainly has it's fair share of predictable jumps sure to scare the living daylights out of its adolescent target audience, it's consistent use of well-worn cliches and conventions doesnt really allow for much in the way orf either tension or atmosphere. However, Sandberg is clearly a very talented visual filmmaker and I'm sure we can expect great things from him in the future. Not the horror masterpiece that many fans and critics are spuriously claiming it to be but entertaining nonetheless.