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Dark Country

Richard wakes up in a motel just outside of Las Vegas with his new wife, Gina by his side. Yes, they just met a day ago but they have much in common. They both have lives that they want to escape so that is what they're doing, which means driving across the desert at night. The film has the standard creepy guy who gives the gloomy warning not to stray off the highway.

But this a drive where the newly married couple get to know each other and in their talks Richard and Gina get lost and stray off the highway. They almost hit a man who was in a car accident. He is still breathing so they put him in the back seat to get help and the adventure begins.

Thomas Jane pulls double duty in Dark Country as the lead actor and director. As a director Jane has proved with this movie that he has a gift behind the camera. The angles and frames he uses to outline each scene gives the audience a chance to focus and learn about each character.

Jane (Richard), Lauren German (Gina), and Ron Perlman (Cop) gave excellent performances. The movie seems to get caught up in the twist and turns, however. There is a strong narrative, which reminded me of a Raymond Chandler novel. The performances, script and directing gives each character a story without it having to be said.

The musical score throughout the film was perfect. It helped to show the emotions contained within. It was interesting to hear the jazzy score switch and build tension or relationship between characters.

I didn't mine the ending even though it was out of the blue. I would have liked to have seen it developed more during the film. I think the intention of the film was that more questions are left unanswered then actually answered.

Dark Countryť is a film which leaves itself to the ending too soon. Jane shows his talent as a director and the acting of the whole cast is a gift to the story.

Written by: Marjorie Quinn

Reviewers Rating: 6.5
Reader's Rating: 8.00
Reader's Votes: 1

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