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Dark Skies Blu-ray review

  • Actors: Keri Russell, Jake Brennan, Josh Hamilton, Dakota Goyo, Kadan Rockett
  • Director: Scott Stewart
  • Writers: Scott Stewart
  • Producers: Bailey Conway, Bob Weinstein, Brian Kavanaugh-Jones, Charles Layton, Harvey Weinstein
  • Format: Color, Widescreen
  • Language: English
  • Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
  • Number of discs: 2
  • Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
  • Studio: Starz / Anchor Bay
  • Release Date: May 28, 2013
  • Run Time: 97 minutes

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             Dark Skies is a moderately entertaining and mildly intelligent thriller, perhaps because writer/director Scott Stewart seems to have taken notes on every successful alien abduction/invasion film before writing his own screenplay. Even his style of direction has a tint of Spielberg lightness to it, despite the darker material about a family under attack from an otherworldly source. There is little about Dark Skies which feels remotely original, I suppose with hope that any ignorant younger audience member won’t be any wiser to the recycled content they are being fed. 

     

             Keri Russell and Josh Hamilton head up the cast as Daniel and Lacy Barrett, a seemingly ordinary couple with two children living a normal suburban life until they are marked by unseen aliens. A series of strange events begin to occur to the family and Daniel and Lacy struggle to find a way to protect themselves from an unknown assailant. Their only ally is a man whose life has been dedicated to researching and fighting alien invaders. This role is somehow made believable through the talents of J.K. Simmons.

     

             The frazzled couple discovers that the events are all leading up to the stealing of a child from the home, so they hunker down and plan to fight back. This is somewhat ridiculous in more than one way, proving that Dark Skies is also a film which is unable to stand up to too much scrutiny. Better to just sit back and hope the small thrills are enough for an evening of entertainment. I will say this; Dark Skies attempts to tap into relevant social issues with the storyline, though much of this gets lost with so little of the genre elements able to impress audiences.

     

             The Blu-ray release includes alternate and deleted scenes, as well as a commentary track with Stewart along with producer Jason Blum, executive producer Brian Kavanaugh-Jones and editor Peter Gvozdas. The package also has a DVD and an ultraviolet copy of the film.

    Entertainment Value: 7/10

    Quality of Filmmaking: 4/10

    Historical Significance: 2/10

    Disc Features: 4/10

     

     

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