A gothic Americana mystery, “Dark Places” spans two timelines as it unravels the truth behind one horrific crime. In the present, Libby Day (Charlize Theron) is a traumatized adult, shuffling aimlessly through life.
Nearly 30 years since, her mother and sisters were murdered, and her brother was convicted as their killer, the leader of a sort of underground crime “fan club" approaches her. At first they make a deal to pick her brain about what happened, and then they drop a bombshell.
They believe her brother is innocent, and they want her help to prove it. From here "Dark Places" registers as a whodunit, unwinding all of the lurid details that led up to the awful conclusion with the promise of uncovering the real perpetrator.
Right off the bat, it’s clear that “Dark Places” suffers
from the same ailment that afflicted “Gone Girl"; the lead female protagonist
is neither sympathetic, nor compelling. Libby is a self-involved and damaged
individual, who has spent her entire adult life, profiting from her family’s heinous demise.
She has also readily gone along with the idea of her brother’s guilt, and in all of the time since he was convicted, she has not questioned it, or wanted to believe otherwise.
As the flashbacks begin to shed light on the prelude to the unthinkable, her behavior in the present becomes more and more disconcerting.
In the 80's, her older brother Ben (Tye Sheridan) appears to be a good kid, who is kind to his family. There is no indication of why adult Libby is so certain of his guilt. Her confidence makes her increasingly irritating to tolerate.
If the inference is that she was brainwashed by a zealous prosecution, it more than misses the mark. She comes across too jaded to accept the word of any authority figure, so the idea that she would go along with whatever a person in power would implore her to say, is hard to believe.
She has also readily gone along with the idea of her brother’s guilt, and in all of the time since he was convicted, she has not questioned it, or wanted to believe otherwise.
As the flashbacks begin to shed light on the prelude to the unthinkable, her behavior in the present becomes more and more disconcerting.
In the 80's, her older brother Ben (Tye Sheridan) appears to be a good kid, who is kind to his family. There is no indication of why adult Libby is so certain of his guilt. Her confidence makes her increasingly irritating to tolerate.
If the inference is that she was brainwashed by a zealous prosecution, it more than misses the mark. She comes across too jaded to accept the word of any authority figure, so the idea that she would go along with whatever a person in power would implore her to say, is hard to believe.
Where the present day falls apart with a lead character too
detestable to root for, “Dark Places” finds its footing in the past.
Fastidiously wading through the time before all hell broke loose; Paquet-Brenner
brings the Day household into bold, and tragic focus.
The family’s matriarch is Patty; a single mom with the entire world on her shoulders, who is dealing with volatile assaults from all angles. One of which is the financial calamity brought on by the 80's farming crisis. Not helping is her horrible ex-husband.
Meanwhile, Patty's precocious son is slipping further under the influence of kids she does not know, and a town gossip mill she cannot combat. It all has her proverbial lifeboat taking in more water than she feels she can possibly bail.
Patty’s struggle is heartbreaking and agonizing to watch unfold. She is fighting with everything she can to hold on for her kids, and the world will not let up on her.
Adding to the tragic underpinnings is "Dark Places'" present day storyline that shows her grown daughter reflecting on her beleaguered mom with zero empathy, or affection. See to Libby, there is, and has been, no greater victim in the universe than herself.
The family’s matriarch is Patty; a single mom with the entire world on her shoulders, who is dealing with volatile assaults from all angles. One of which is the financial calamity brought on by the 80's farming crisis. Not helping is her horrible ex-husband.
Meanwhile, Patty's precocious son is slipping further under the influence of kids she does not know, and a town gossip mill she cannot combat. It all has her proverbial lifeboat taking in more water than she feels she can possibly bail.
Patty’s struggle is heartbreaking and agonizing to watch unfold. She is fighting with everything she can to hold on for her kids, and the world will not let up on her.
Adding to the tragic underpinnings is "Dark Places'" present day storyline that shows her grown daughter reflecting on her beleaguered mom with zero empathy, or affection. See to Libby, there is, and has been, no greater victim in the universe than herself.
To his credit, Paquet-Brenner brings the 80's to life in a
way that is authentic, and heavily akin to how watching an old episode of
“Dateline” or “20/20” can be. "Dark Places" looks the part and uncomfortably feels it as well, although it all looks, and, sounds familiar to the present.
The music is loud, the kids are angry, and life is teeming with angst, and economic uncertainty. The world is looking on with fevered concern, as its youth spirals down uncharted territory.
The music is loud, the kids are angry, and life is teeming with angst, and economic uncertainty. The world is looking on with fevered concern, as its youth spirals down uncharted territory.
True crime aficionados will have no trouble picking up on the various ripped from the headline crimes that are interwoven throughout “Dark Places”. As a
commentary on those real life events, "Dark Places" offers a viewpoint, but not one loud
enough to necessarily decipher.
People’s paranoia of the unknown, and rush to judgment of outsiders serves as the common thread for requisite critique, which is nothing groundbreaking, though enduring in its relevance.
People’s paranoia of the unknown, and rush to judgment of outsiders serves as the common thread for requisite critique, which is nothing groundbreaking, though enduring in its relevance.
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| Image by A24 / Entertainment One / Mars Distribution |
Casting turns out to be the "Dark Places'" most pivotal upswing and simultaneous downfall. Charlize Theron delivers a sturdy supporting performance, despite feeling entirely miscast as the big mouthed Libby. With Theron’s physical prowess, it is hard to accept Libby’s squawking as her only defense, when she is physically threatened. It is obvious she could more than handle herself, if given the opportunity.
The casting for young Libby is similarly off the mark, as she, and Theron share no physical resemblance. Because of this and the strong likeness between the young actresses playing the Day sisters, it is next to impossible to keep track of which girl is supposed to be Libby, in the 80's storyline.
On the other hand, Tye Sheridan and Corey Stoll are well-matched counterparts for their character’s younger, and older selves. Sheridan
once again proves why he is one of Hollywood's current crop of young actors, worth keeping an eye on, in
the coming years.
Still waters run deep, and as he did in “Mud” and “Joe,” Sheridan offers up a brilliant characterization of a troubled kid with loads of heart, you cannot help hoping, will turn his life around.
His performance as Ben is understated, genuine, and realistic, and his avoidance of big flowery emotion pays off, exponentially. As reliable as Sheridan has become, the most unexpectedly remarkable performances in "Dark Places" come from actresses Christina Hendricks and Chloe Grace-Moretz.
Hendricks is nothing short of amazing as the worn-out Patty. She portrays Patty's helplessnes, and sorrow with a gravitas that is indelibly haunting.
Still waters run deep, and as he did in “Mud” and “Joe,” Sheridan offers up a brilliant characterization of a troubled kid with loads of heart, you cannot help hoping, will turn his life around.
His performance as Ben is understated, genuine, and realistic, and his avoidance of big flowery emotion pays off, exponentially. As reliable as Sheridan has become, the most unexpectedly remarkable performances in "Dark Places" come from actresses Christina Hendricks and Chloe Grace-Moretz.
Hendricks is nothing short of amazing as the worn-out Patty. She portrays Patty's helplessnes, and sorrow with a gravitas that is indelibly haunting.
While Grace-Moretz gives her best performance to date as
Ben’s wicked girlfriend, Diondra. Grace-Moretz manages to walk the fine line
between bratty kid, and beyond her years Lolita, with a refinement that indicates
major performance strides.
She’s never embodied a character to better effect than she does in "Dark Places." There are no echoes of Hit-Girl, or any of the other tough-girl teens she’s played before in “Hick,” “Dark Shadows," “Laggies” etc. There’s something more adult, assured, and mature about her performance as Diondra that hints at even better things to come from her as an actress.
She’s never embodied a character to better effect than she does in "Dark Places." There are no echoes of Hit-Girl, or any of the other tough-girl teens she’s played before in “Hick,” “Dark Shadows," “Laggies” etc. There’s something more adult, assured, and mature about her performance as Diondra that hints at even better things to come from her as an actress.
The performances of its cast, grounds “Dark Places” as more
of a character study, than a thriller. The storyline is grim,
disturbing, heavy, and about as far away from a popcorn thriller as you can get.
Writer/director Paquet-Brenner brings an unflinching glimpse to the material,
packing it with the distractive assets of its cast to buoy a downer of a story.
The daunting scope of the tragedy that comprises its denouement makes for an ending that is impossible to forget. Due to this, “Dark Places” is a one-time watch kind of movie because it stays with you long after the credits roll.
The daunting scope of the tragedy that comprises its denouement makes for an ending that is impossible to forget. Due to this, “Dark Places” is a one-time watch kind of movie because it stays with you long after the credits roll.
Rating: 7.2/10
[Featured Image by A24 / Entertainment One / Mars Distribution]
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