Alone In The Dark - Is it any good? (Alone In The Dark (DVD))

Member Name: numptyboymatt

Product:	Alone In The Dark (DVD)
Date:	22/10/05 (60 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: At least the computer games were good!

Disadvantages: Not really even the slightest bit scary

Here I'm reviewing the 2004 Uwe Boll film "Alone In The Dark" based on the computer game series....

"Edward Carnby is a private investigator specialising in supernatural phenomena. His cases delve into the dark corners of the world, searching for truth in occult remnants of ancient civilizations. When he investigates the mystery surrounding the recent death of his friend, he's brought face to face with bizarre horrors that prove both psychologically disturbing and lethally dangerous. With the help of ex-girlfriend Aline Cedrac, and bitter rival Richard Burke, Edward embarks on a journey where he's confronted by forces of darkness, that eat away at his very sanity".

Once again, another film that I missed at the flicks as had been dying to see, despite it getting rubbish reviews from just about everyone, purely because I liked the computer game.

I have to say, this really wasnt anywhere near as bad as I was lead to believe, but it wasnt really that good either...

I cant make my mind up about the plot for this film at all - either the plot that was there was SO complicated that it passed over my head completely, OR there was no plot there in the first place... Even the blurb on the back of the dvd case makes no reference to an actual plot as such... Anyway, will someone else please watch this and then explain the plot to me???

The director of this film Uwe Boll is always being criticised for, well, basically being a bit rubbish, but I dont think that he did too bad a job with this film - It's certainly better than the last film of his I saw - "House Of The Dead" (also based on a computer game).

Seeing as how I cant discuss the plot (as I dont know what it is!) I shall discuss the effects - I was quite pleased that this was an 18 certificate, because that usually means you are in for some hardcore gore or something along those lines, rather than the usual teen friendly pap that seems to be flying around the horror world at the moment. Admittedly, there wasnt THAT much gore in this film, but there was the odd bit to satisfy the gorehounds out there. One thing I didnt like about this movie is the way that it insisted on using "Matrix" style bullet-time effects - we've seen it ALL before, and the novelty has well and truly worn off now - WHEN WILL THESE PEOPLE LEARN???

The monsters in this film were pretty good too, I must add - pretty similar to the ones in Alien, but nonetheless, still pretty good.

Another thing that I HAVE to get off my chest is: Tara Reid playing a scientist? Im not even going to say what Im thinking now, purely because DooYoo say "Take care not to offend or libel third parties".... lol

Anyway, if you have a spare hour or so to throw away, watch this, personally, I shall stick to playing the games.

Summary: Go play the game instead.