DARK SKIES
US, 2014, 97 minutes, Colour.
Kerry Russell, Josh Hamilton, Dakota Goya, Kadan Rockett, J.K.Simmons.
Directed by Scott Stewart.
Dark Skies has an ominous-toned title. The film opens with an ordinary family and audiences identifying with them, the father during an interview for a new job, the mother selling real estate, two boys at home.
Gradually, strange things happen, unexplained mess in the kitchen, a building block of photos, the younger son outside. The police are sceptical, the father instals surveillance screens but falls asleep and misses out on some time, as does his wife while she is trying to sell the house. The younger son has strange catatonic experiences. Then, three flocks of birds crash into the house and the windows.
While researching the phenomena, the wife discovers an expert, played in a rather subdued and persuasive manner by J.K. Simmons. The film then turns from mystery with touches of horror into an alien, bodysnatching film, rather more restrained than gory and available to a wider range of audience.
The director is Scott Stewart, director of the post apocalyptic films Legion and Priest, both with Paul Bettany.
1. The title, ominous? From clear skies to stormy and alien attack?
2. The family story, ordinary, leading to mystery, horror, aliens? The plausibility of the plot?
3. An ordinary family, the home, the kids, friends? Daniel and the job application, feeling that he had failed? Later getting it? Lacy and her real estate work, showing the houses to clients? Audiences identifying with the parents and their family situation?
4. Lacy, her age, the marriage, love for her husband, love for the boys, Jesse’s past illness, getting healthier? The concern about Sam, being bullied? Tension? Her job, liking it, and kindly to prospective clients?
5. Jesse and Sam, their ages, supporting each other, the horror stories, Sam’s dreams, the communication from room to room? Bonding with their parents, Jesse, his friend, the sex videos, some anger towards his parents? Sam, dependent? The young girl, at the party, her looking at Jesse, support? Sam and the football, his behaviour, the reaction?
6. The strange phenomena in the house, the mess in the kitchen, the building blocks with the photos? The new security, discussions with the police, no one entering the house? Sam outside? The odd behaviour, discussions about sleepwalking and sleep-eating?
7. Lacy, her anxiety, the house, being with the clients, her sudden breakdown, waking, the lost hours, her being told to go on leave? A growing concern?
8. Daniel, the itch behind his ear, getting the security installed, the discussions with the police, his watching the screens, the distorted screens, sleeping, the lost time? Finding Sam outside?
9. Going to the doctor, advice, the theories about the phenomena? Sam and the stripes on his back, the friend confronting Lacy? On Jesse’s back? The threat, the visitor and the discussions, her phone call? Child protection?
10. The birds crashing into the house, the supervisor, the news that there were three different flocks of birds?
11. Lacy googling, finding similar incidents, discovering the expert, going to see him in person, his home, his appearance, his hat, his questions for the interview, explaining situations to them?
12. The aliens, studying humans, the inserts into people, illnesses, behaviour, weaknesses and threats?
13. Protecting the house, boarding up the windows? Jesse and his annoyance, his leaving, the girl urging him back? The return, the protection of the dog,
the gun? The drawings, the aliens, reality, seeing the aliens come into the house, the attack, the light?
14. Jesse being taken? The three months passing, Sam and the contact with his brother? They’re accepting the reality?
15. A rather low key alien horror story, accessible to a wider audience – but appealing to ordinary families, ordinary characters, and yet their being singled out for alien observation?
