Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/718065
AUGUST 24-30, 2016 UCW 25 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM Don't Be Afraid of the Dark Lights Out (Rated PG-13) by HEATHER GRIFFITHS Lights Out (81 minutes) was supposed to be scary. It was based on a neat little horror short that ended with a big scare, which got me all excited for the feature length version directed by the same guy. If he could scare the bejeesus out of me in less than three minutes with no budget at all, how much more effectively could he scare me with lots of money? Not at all that effectively, it turns out. The only time I jumped was when the dog started yapping unexpectedly. In what may be the most promising place to begin a horror movie I've ever seen, Ye Olde Mannequin warehouse, Paul (Billy Burke) and Esther (Like It Matters) see some stuff. The warehouse owners probably forgot to pay the electric bill, because the lights keep flickering on and off — silhouetting the feral looking shape of something humanoid that only comes out when the lights are off. The look of the spookster is the coolest thing about the film, and it gets old quickly. Having dispatched the targets, the scene shifts to our hero, Rebecca (Teresa Palmer). She is arguing with her boyfriend Bret (Alexander DiPersia) about whether he can mark her apartment as his territory by leaving his dirty socks in her underwear drawer. Wow, usually it's the woman who is pressing for commitment and the man who is trying to keep things casual! What a wacky switcheroo! Anyway, Rebecca's half-brother Martin (Gabriel Bateman) has drawn the attention of social services for falling asleep in class. Hmm. That must be the best funded department of social services ever. I used to fall asleep in class every day after lunch and nobody even seemed to notice. Martin hasn't even started chanting redrum at his finger yet! Rebecca takes him home to their mother Sophie (Maria Bello) and finds out that she is going off the rails on a crazy train. Rebecca decides that Martin is coming home with her for the night so that Sophie can have more alone time with her imaginary friend. Too bad the imaginary friend is real. And in no way tied to Sophie's location. And has a grudge against Rebecca and Martin. And politely does not kill them, even though it totally could. Presumably, this is because Mama Crazypants told it not too, but I'm not buying that. How hard is it to kill someone and make it look like an accident when no one can see you unless it's dark? I mean, I'm not homicidal or invisible, but I would just knock out the lightbulb and wait for someone to walk up the stairs on a dark night. Movie audiences turned this subpar horror dreck into a money machine, and there's already a planned sequel. Overall, I would rather just watch the original short film a few more times. The acting here is unbelievably lazy--Bello just recycled her post-kidnapping Mom role from Prisoners. I would make fun of the little boy's "acting" too, but I'm afraid that calling him out for having the emotional range of a squeegee would make me a monster. Now showing at Patriot 14 + IMAX. HEATHER GRIFFITHS, Contributing Writer. COMMENTS? Editor@ upandcomingweekly.com. 910.484.6200. $i. 50 Drink, Every Day, All Day! $i. 50 Drink, Every Day, All Day! $i. 50 Popcorn. Every Day All Day! $i. 50 Popcorn. Every Day All Day! $i. 50 Popcorn. Every Day All Day! $i. 50 Drinks. Every Day, All Day! $i. 50 Drinks. Every Day, All Day! $i. 50 Drinks. Every Day, All Day! $2.00 before 6:00 p.m. $3.00 after 6:00 p.m. $1.00 extra for 3D MOVIES Movie Monday: $1.50 All Day(Holiday or 3D movies excluded) presented by Friday, Aug 26 @ 6pm in Festival Park Bring your appetite! We'll have 10-12 gourmet food trucks dishing out some of the best food on wheels. Fayetteville After 5, in Festival Park, is "the place to go" for date night or a great evening out with family and friends. Enjoy great music, food and fun every fourth Friday of the month now through August. with Breathe New Life and the Army Ground Forces Rock Band