Writer: Peter Chai

Writer Ratings:
Overall:
Cast:
Plot:
Effects:
Cinematography:

Watch this if you liked: “Paranormal Activity” and “Sinister”

Directed by Scott Stewart, "Dark Skies" follows the Barrett couple and their young children throughout several horrifying occasions that intrudes on their peaceful life. Struggling financially with his family and having trouble communicating with his elder son Jesse (Dakota Goyo) is Daniel (Josh Hamilton), who is terrified by the mysterious happenings in his house after his wife Lacy (Keri Russell) finds out that someone breaks into their home while they are asleep every night. Things go from bad to worse when their youngest son Sam (Kadan Rockett) starts acting weirdly, which the couple initially suspect as a psychological problem. However, the never-ending shocking events outside and inside their home which includes Lacy witnessing an unknown creature interacting with Sam, have led the couple to seek help from an alien expert Edwin Pollard (J.K Simmons). After discovering the truth behind all the incidents, Daniel decides to unite the family and protect his children from being kidnapped by the alien race.

The 'come-and-go' treatment of the alien creatures towards the Barretts may not be as exciting as what we have experienced in 2011's "The Darkest Hour", which emphasized on the invisibility of the aliens in the big environment of Moscow, but Stewart is able to create a imaginative room for us by approaching the actions taken by the aliens in a small building from a different perspective, which at some points make us wonder whether the villains are aliens or just some disgusting spirit that have come to take them away.

The constant arguments between Daniel and Lacy and their conflicted opinions on the disturbing events haunting them played an important part in leading the audience into a messy family drama and of course the unbelievable discovery of the aliens.

Since the film is produced by the team who made "Paranormal Activity", there is no surprise when Daniel sets up cameras in each of every room in order to track down the annoying object in front of his Apple iMac screen. Compared to the successful horror franchise, "Dark Skies" provides a rather simple observation on the supernatural mystery in a short period of time and it fails to make the audience scream.

Nevertheless, if you are looking for some scary elements, the scene where the crazy birds fly into the windows and every corner of the Barretts' house will definitely make you sweat a little on your comfortable cinema seats. You might also spill out your cup of drink when you see blood pouring out from Daniel's nose in the middle of the night.

"Dark Skies" may not be one of the scariest movies around the corner but it certainly has the capability to make you paranoid or insomniac at a lonely night.

Cinema Online, 21 February 2013