Dark August
Directed by Martin Goldman
Sal, an out-of-towner relocated to a small rural community, finds himself at the mercy of dark forces after inadvertently killing a young girl in a car accident. Pursued at every turn by the girl's grandfather and a menacing, shrouded figure, Sal soon becomes convinced that the old man has placed a hex on him and seeks out the assistance of a local psychic medium. Filmed entirely on location in Vermont, which cinematographer Richard E. Brooks captures in all its rustic, autumnal beauty, Dark August - originally entitled The Hant - is a quiet, insidious horror picture perfect for those who like their chills to creep up on them.
Sal, an out-of-towner relocated to a small rural community, finds himself at the mercy of dark forces after inadvertently killing a young girl in a car accident.
Cast: Kim Hunter, J.J. Barry, Carolyne Barry
Member Reviews
I really rated this. Sure, it's a more subtle take on a horror story, more in keeping with the BBC Ghost Story for Christmas in tone though its emphasis is more on the psychological than the supernatural or the gory, but it approaches the material in a naturalistic and believable manner and has some genuinely good performances that lift it beyond a lot of the low budget shlock that's out there. The script was written by the leads, J.J. Barry and Carolyne Barry and is full of revealing dialogue that, while never signposting its intent, always allows the audience room to understand its meaning. It also has some genuinely funny interractions between characters that, rather than feeling forced, give a real sense of depth to the relationships in the piece. Although I wouldn't want anything changed about this, had Dark August chanced to have a more famous horror face somewhere amongst its cast I feel sure it would be much better known. As it, it's a sorely underrated film derserving of a much higher profile.
It's got a cool vibe and the music was good, that's about it.
I tried but just couldn't get to the end of this. I don't mind a slow burn, but nothing ever happened. The acting was decent, and the scenery pleasant, but the story went nowhere.
Subtle but effective story of spiritual imbalance.
Very solid and pleasingly scenic for 70s horror film fans.