The Darkness Within

Directed & Written By: Dom Portalla
Starring: Jimmy Scanlon, Michelle Romano, Stephanie Maheu, Sean Pierce, David Wilson, Ken Flott
Plot Summary from official website: Chad Morgan and Ashley Sera are starting their new life together. They've recently gotten engaged and have moved into an apartment in a new town. Everything is seemingly perfect, except for one thing--their next-door neighbor, Mr. Reed. After a bizarre encounter, Chad begins to realize that if he doesn't unlock the secret to this mystery voyeur soon, he may lose everything including his mind.

Rach's Words:
I am very, very slow on updating about this film as it was sent to me to review months ago. ALL APOLOGIES.

Despite the delay, I am SO glad I finally sat down to watch it. This is the second independent film effort from Dom Portalla. His first, Duality, had the makings of a solid foundation for a new filmmaker but was buried beneath too many obvious influences. With The Darkness Within, Portalla is really starting to find his own voice--his own loud, creepy, spine-tingling voice.

The story in this film is a pretty standard "everything seems perfect and then it all starts to unravel" tale, but it packs a wallop of an ending. I'm reluctant to go into the plot with much detail, so as not to give anything away but, suffice it to say, Dom's writing is engaging and this tale he has spun will leave you befuddled and chilled. Another plus: his dialogue is believable and quirky. There are a few rough spots--attempts at witty banter that go on just a tad too long and fall flat--but overall the script is well-written with a flow that carries the viewer through a twisting and turning plot like Mr. Toad's Wild Ride (the scariest ride of all the Disney theme park rides. For crying out loud..I cried for 2 solid hours afterwards when I was 8 years old.)

As for performances, the breakout, hands down, was Jimmy Scanlon as the lead. He reminded me of Sharlto Copley in District 9: starting the film with a quiet, everyman quality that peels away to reveal something so much more intense. He was not without his flaws (a few moments scattered throughout the film of disengaged delivery), but when he's good...he's GOOD. I hope this was more than just a lark for Mr. Scanlon and he is working on developing that burgeoning talent. With some work, he could pull off some great performances in the future.

Honorable mention goes to Ken Flott, who plays "creepy" so damn well.

What really shines in this film, though, is Dom Portalla's direction and editing. As I said, he is finding his voice. And while it retains some Lynchian echos, the final effects are all attributable to his own creativity. There were at least two or three moments that gave me chills as a direct result of his inventive blocking, cuts and use of lighting. For a sophomore effort, this film is solid and shows that Portalla is only gaining a firmer grasp on his own talents and honing in on how best to use them. I can't wait to see what else he has up his sleeve.


Support local independent filmmakers!!!

Check out the film's official website and facebook pages for local screenings and festival appearances (and then GO to them):

http://www.doorelevenproductions.com/darkness/

http://www.facebook.com/photos.php?id=225199884979#!/pages/The-Darkness-Within/225199884979