The Darkest Hour (2011) Review: “Can I Have My $15 Back?”

Yell! Magazine’s review of The Darkest Hour:

Every so often, there comes along a film that polarizes friends and turns family members against one another. Some premises are just so contentious, just so “love it or hate it” that they leave no middle ground for anyone predisposed to nuance.

The Darkest Hour would be one of those films, but it makes the mistake of committing creative suicide during the final stretch. If you were open-minded enough to welcome an idea like “invisible aliens,” then you’ll probably still find yourself unsatisfied.

You see, the main draw/repulsion to this Christmas palate cleanser is that the alien menace that terrorizes Moscow is, in fact, invisible. The most we initially glimpse of them are nothing more than coruscating wisps of light — kind of like an otherworldly jellyfish or a plastic bag caught in the wind.

Now, I know what you’re thinking, or at the very least, you might fall into one of these two reactional categories:

1) “Invisible aliens?” They might as well call this damn thing “Budget Cuts: The Movie.”

If this is what you happen to be thinking, then you’re entirely justified, good sir. The film is displayed in 3-D, no less, so you’d be paying extra to see what is essentially nothing. If you’re the proud owner of this sort of reaction, then don’t even consider seeing The Darkest Hour — that is, unless you’re some kind of masochist.

2) However, there is of course, a second predictable reaction, one that’s no doubt what director Chris Gorak was shooting for. Goes something like this:

“Whoa, wait. They’re “invisible”? And they disintegrate you by touch? That’s freakin’ awesome! That’s genius! What a fool I was to assume that creatures from another planet, nay, another galaxy would be composed out of some kind of tangible substance! The little green men/vicious alien predator schtick has been done to death! It’s about friggin’ time somebody got the balls to attempt something a little different! A toast to Chris Gorak, may the light of Eldor shine ever upon him!”

If that’s what you’re thinking, well good for you. You’ve got a broad enough imagination to enjoy a film like The Darkest Hour.

That is, if the film actually went all the way with it’s own proposition.

Read about where The Darkest Hour drops the ball after the jump…