For a low budget independent film director Douglas A. Raine’s
From a Place of Darkness (2008) is a
pretty decent start for a veteran of such films as Men of Honor (2000), Holy Man
(1998), The Postman (1997), and Broken Arrow (1996), where he was assistant
director. From a Place of Darkness is a smaller film than those that delves
into the slow descent of a documentary filmmaker researching a snuff film
filmmaker .
Miles Kody (Travis Schuldt) is a documentary filmmaker whose
latest subject is Vic (John Savage), a self-professed snuff movie
filmmaker. As Miles delves deeper into
Vic’s mode of operation he slowly discovers that the location from which Vic
has made these alleged films is haunted by his victims. The more Miles discovers about Vic the
deeper his obsession to know the truth and the more withdrawn he becomes to both
family and friends.
Raine’s film is not perfect by any means but it is a slow
burning character film that comes off as an indie film with something to say in
the way of darkness and how it can eat into a person’s soul and make them do
things that they wouldn’t normally do.
Savage does a lamentable job with the material but at times he comes off
as a caricature. This actually helps the
film as sometimes it is does get bogged down by its own excesses.
The cast for the film is filled out with very capable actors
such as Conor Duffy, Valery Ortiz, Natalie Zea and a special appearance by
Bronson Pinchot (who chews the scenery about as much as Savage does). The film does pick up steam in the third act
which is a bit odd considering how the first two thirds are. The film decides to bring the paranormal
aspects to the forefront which may turn off a few people expecting a more
cerebral film but it does allow the film to have some immediacy which was
lacking in the rest of the film.
Overall, the film is nothing spectacular but if you’re a John Savage fan
then you’ll enjoy his performance as a snuff movie filmmaker.
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