Lights Out
Director : David Sandberg
Cast : Teresa Palmer, Gabriel Bateman and Alexander Di Persia
Rating : ****
Ervell E. Menezes
“Lights Out” is as horror film at its best. Even though it doesn’t have Dracula, the Prince of Darkness, it has a “touched’ family centred on mother Sophie (Maria Bello), her daughter Rebecca (Teresa Palmer), her kid brother Martin (Gabriel Bateman) and Rebecca’ s boy-friend Bret (Alexander Di Persia).
Sophie has been put into an asylum because of her strange behavior which leads to Rebecca leaving her. But persuaded by her brother she returns along with a reluctant Bret. Based on “Lights Out” by David Sandberg, it also has Sandberg as director who is supported by an eerie-imaginative script and whether it is creaking doors opening one after the other or the stunning hand from the past it is suspense in king-size doses all based on Sophie’s childhood friend Diana.
The setting is apt, a lonely house in the back of beyond, which may not rival “The Psycho” residence but it has enough of rooms and most things happen when the lights are out. “Sometimes the strongest thing to do is to face your fears,” says little Martin to console his distraught sister Rebecca.
Slowly, as if peeling layers of the onion director-author Sandberg keeps the viewer on a tight lease and he also sticks to the Bunuelian formula (its just 81 minutes long). That he is supported by a string of talented performers is another asset. In fact it is hard to single them out. If Teresa Palmer in the lead role is brilliant Maria Bello as the mother is not far behind and little Gabriel Bateman is bound to go places. Only Alexandre Di Persia is just academic. Caressing camerawork and slick editing further embellish this near-perfect horror movie.
