“Darkness Falls” (Columbia Pictures)
If you think Hollywood is nearing the end of fanciful creatures to inhabit its horror movies – you are right! In the new film “Darkness Falls” the creature that all people fear is “the tooth fairy.” Yes, in this movie the deadly tooth fairy comes when a child loses its last baby tooth. Her arrival means death and destruction.
At least this is what happened to Kyle Walsh (Chaney Kley) when he lost his last baby tooth. He lived in the town of Darkness Falls and the “tooth fairy” came to his room that fateful night. He managed to escape her vengeance but has spent the next twelve years living in fear of her. Now he has been summoned back to Darkness Falls by his old friend Caitlin (Emma Caulfield), whose younger brother Michael (Lee Cormie) is afraid of the dark.
Kyle asks Caitlin if Michael just lost his last baby tooth and she says yes. Kyle is certain that Michael is afraid of the tooth fairy but doesn’t know how to express his fears. Now he must convince Caitlin and others in Darkness Falls that the “tooth fairy” is real and that Michael is in imminent danger.
Sound silly Of course it is. But it does manage to have some chills and thrills and that is all audiences for this type of movie ask for. Plus the shocks are all PG-13 rated, rather than R, which means they don’t get too intense or gory.
The acting in the film is passable, and the special effects are too. The “tooth fairy” seems to have a lot in common with the wicked witch of the west, as she is clothed in black and could possibly be riding a broom.
The movie is rated PG-13 for violence and profanity.
“Darkness Falls” has a gimmick in its villain being the tooth fairy, and also in the fact that she can’t come into the light. So as long as the sun is out or lights are on, the people are safe. It is when batteries die, electricity goes off, and darkness falls that they have troubles.
As thrillers go, this movie is only so-so in its fear factor and its chills.
I scored “Darkness Falls” a dim 4 out of 10.
©2003 Jackie K. Cooper
