By Mark Hockley
The synopsis tells us that a group of friends embark on a road trip, oblivious to the supernatural horrors that await them along the way.
Andy Fickman, the writer and director, has a history in comedy, so this foray into horror is a new endeavour for him. Unfortunately, despite the generally capable presentation, he fails dismally in the script department.
The above summary doesn’t mention that the majority of the film takes place inside an RV, which could have created a sense of claustrophobic suspense. Sadly this is not the case and the vague supernatural threat is not very sinister or compelling. It also doesn’t help that the behaviour and reactions of our protagonists are either baffling or ridiculous.
The performances, while variable, are not the worst thing on offer here, as it really is the mediocre script that halts any possibility of intrigue or tension. The jump scares are predictable and this lack of invention is mirrored by the incredibly generic music score.
The real issue with these kind of horror films is that ultimately, there’s no one to invest in or care about. Once our main characters begin to behave in unreasonable or unrealistic ways, all credibility is rapidly lost.
By the time the end credits roll there really is little to recommend and to be truthful, given the fact that some of the dialogue is ludicrous, Don’t Turn Out the Lights is probably best forgotten.
Don’t Turn Out The Lights on digital 17 March from 101 Films.
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