Dark Vale (2018) Movie Review
Written By: FR
Edited By: Grave Reviews Staff
Film Information
Director: Jason M.J. Brown
Writer: Jason M.J. Brown
Producers: Jason M.J. Brown, Martin Farmilo
Date Released: May 22, 2018
Cast:
Chloe Clarke as Lady Lucy
Martin Farmilo as Camp Fire Story Teller
Sadie Kime as Fairground Dream Girl
Ciara A. Lyons as Fairground Girl
Cara Middleton as Leah
Darren Randall as Tom
Katie Richmond-Ward as Anna
Darren Whitfield as Carl
Rating = 2/5 Graves
***May contain some spoilers***
Synopsis
A young couple, Tom (Darren Randall) and Leah (Cara Middleton) decide to spend time at a cottage in the countryside. However, in order to get there, they must travel through a wooded forest known as the vale. As they travel, they discover a ghost known as Lady Lucy who wanders the woods. However, the couple becomes lost in the vale and must try to find a way out. But some things may be a lost effort.
Gore Factor
Dark Vale (2018) does not contain a lot of blood and gore throughout the film. However within the vale is a ghost named Lucy that haunts the area. The ghost, itself, is very creepy and makes her presence known by incorporating excellent special effects and cosmetic work in her appearance. However, other than the nice makeup design, there were no other notable aspects about this film.
The Grave Review
The concept of Dark Vale (2018) is based on an urban legend dating back about a hundred years. Dark Vale (2018) is a ghost story that was able to keep the premise a mystery which makes the viewers guessing to the very end. The lead characters were lost in a world that they cannot fathom while the secrets of the woods unveil themselves at an intentionally slow pace. However, the film was able to build plenty of tension and atmospheric intensity. To add to these factors, the film is setup with a great location.
The film starts up pretty interesting and the set up is very commendable. However, it was not until the second half of the film that the premise started to pick up. Jump scares become ineffective upon revelation of the source of the horror. It started dragging on while the protagonists run around the vale without direction or hope while acting terrified for hours.
In respect to the performances, they felt inconsistent as some actors and actresses performed better than others. Cara Middleton had a strong presence on screen and acted well within her role as what appeared to be the neglected girlfriend. Darren Randall’s performance in comparison felt modest at best. However, it should be noted that this was Randall’s first performance in a feature film. Darren Whitfield also fared pretty well as one of the ghost’s victims. The ghost Lucy probably wasn’t the most challenging role for actress Chloe Clarke, but her ability to create intensity through glares and movements were well-done.
Overall the film has mediocre uneven acting, unimpressive CGI, and poor sound arrangement. The script has its moments, as Tom and Leah do come off as a believable couple. As the film moves to the end, some of the tense scares show some serious buildup, but it does get weaker once the scares come in. The film eventually makes the couple lose their sanity but it became confusing and harder to follow.
For the foregoing reasons, Grave Reviews gives Dark Vale (2018) two graves out of five graves.
Do you agree with our review? Comment below.
Join the Conversation