Ghostly horror lacks spirit
Lights Out (M, 81mins) Directed by David S Sandberg
Inspired by his short film that became an internet sensation, David S Sandberg’s atmospheric horror is tautly-constructed, if tiresomely predictable.
When we first meet Rebecca (Aussie actress Teresa Palmer), her biggest problem seems to be warding off the amorous intentions and desire for commitment from her boyfriend.
But, when her stepfather dies in a mysterious ‘‘accident’’ at his work and the little brother she abandoned reaches out for her help, Rebecca knows she must confront demons from her past. They come in the form of her mother Sophie’s (Maria Bello) mental illness and the spectral, yet physical manifestation of Sophie’s supposedly long-dead ‘‘childhood friend’’ Diana Walter.
Born with a strange skin disorder, doctors at Diana and Sophie’s mental institution caused the former’s demise by exposing her to too much light. Now, she stalks the shadows, determined to wreck revenge on the world and keeping herself ‘‘alive’’ by manipulating Sophie’s fragile mind.
What starts out as a seemingly clever riff on Doctor Who’s Weeping Angels and the last couple of years’ horror hits It Follows and The Babadook, quickly develops into a much more disappointing supernatural slasher – with a premise that’s kind of Drop Dead Fred-meetsGhost.
Director Sandberg shows plenty of skill in his use of sound and vision, with not only white, but blue, yellow and red lighting from a variety of modern sources adding to the tension and intrigue. Likewise, screenwriter Eric Heisserer (Final Destination 5) tries to inject some interesting Spielbergian family dynamics and child’s perspective into proceedings.
However, their efforts end up being somewhat wasted, as characterisation and the film’s chutzpah is overshadowed by some overly fraught acting and an over-reliance on our protagonists doing ‘‘dumb things’’.
So while it’s a step up from similar-themed noughties schlock like Robert De Niro-starrer Hide and Seek, Lights Out lacks any real spirit or truly innovative scares to make it stand out from the crowded horde of horrors unleashed over the past 12 months. James Croot