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*This review may contain some spoilers*
Produced by TV veteran Stephen J. Cannell (The Rockford Files, Hunter, The A-Team) and directed by Steven R. Monroe (House of 9, It Waits), Left In Darkness is the story of a young girl named Celia (Monica Keena), who celebrates her 21st birthday by going to a frat party. She meets a guy there who secretly drugs her drink and, after she passes out, he rapes her. She eventually wakes up in a bathroom, scared and confused. As she regains her senses, she sees a body lying in the shower. When she gets a closer look, she realizes that it is her lying in the shower! She dies of a drug overdose and finds herself in purgatory, somewhere between heaven and hell. With the help of a childhood imaginary friend
named "Donovan" (David Anders), she desperately searches for a way out of limbo.
Left In Darkness is one of those rare, straight-to-DVD, movies that didn’t quite get the recognition it deserves. It is a fresh and creative story that makes the most of a limited budget. With the skillful use of lighting and camera angles, Steven R. Monroe was able to effectively establish a strange, alternate reality, without having to use a lot of CGI or multiple set locations (the majority of the film takes place in the frat house).
Monica Keena (Freddy vs. Jason) delivers an outstanding performance, and keeps the story interesting and believable. Equally notable is the supporting role of “Donovan” played marvelously by David Anders from the TV show Alias. The story primarily revolves around these two characters, and without their strong performances, the movie would have undoubtedly lost much of its effectiveness.
On the downside, the movie is a little heavy on the drama, and light on action or suspense. I never really got the sense that Celia was in any imminent danger, especially with her “guardian angel” always close by. Even the best burrito in Mexico could always use some hot sauce. That’s how I felt about Left In Darkness. It had a good story, with good actors, but it could have used a little more zest.
There's also a plot “twist” that I didn’t find particularly compelling. Some of the explanations and motivations behind the characters could have been tightened up. As it was, I was left with a few continuity issues that remained unresolved.
Nonetheless, Left In Darkness is a very good low-budget film that is certainly worth the price of a rental. Be wary that it is somewhat light on the action, and a better job could have been done with the development of suspense. But if you’re looking for a fresh and creative horror film, give this one a try.
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