Anthology films are a very special breed. By featuring multiple segments in a single film, you’re able to capture a wide range of tones, characters, and events. Unfortunately, these films have taken a turn towards Found Footage in recent years, and it’s had a hard time crawling out of that pit. Not that there’s anything “wrong” with Found Footage, but this style used to stand for something else. Back when Tales from the Crypt, Creepshow, and Cat’s Eye wielded the power of the anthology film, they were some of my favorite films and series in existence. Now… it’s just not the same. Or maybe I should say it hasn’t been the same lately, because In the Dark firmly places the anthology film back on the road to redemption.

Presented in a manner that pays tribute to the classic anthology films and series mentioned above; In the Dark covers 4 separate tales over the span of its 85 minute run time. All 4 vary wildly from one another, and NONE of them are found footage. I don’t know about you, but that alone allows me to exhale a major sigh of relief. But this is more than just a nod to the past – In the Dark is very much a modern product, and considering the miniscule budget that the filmmakers had to work with, the production values are surprisingly slick. Any cheese that works its way into the visuals is generally there to support the mood of story. It’s impressive and something that I hadn’t realized i was missing in modern releases until seeing it again for myself. Some cheese is okay. Sometimes it just…works.

The stories feel complete and fleshed out. A common complaint in modern anthologies is “segment overkill”. As awesome as films like the ABC’s of Death and Tales from Halloween are, the sheer amount of segments can often work against the success of the film overall. That can be a bummer. Luckily, In the Dark gets us in and out with practically no filler. And in classic anthology fashion, each segment ends with a quick little jab to the mid-section to seal the deal.

That said, you aren’t likely to see many familiar faces here, but there are a few that I certainly hope to see again in the future. Tristan Jackson exudes a cool and casual type of insanity in THE KEEPER, Olivia Bishop is prime survivor girl material in DUMMY, and Justin Hand… goddamn, Justin Hand. There are few moments in film that cannot be properly conveyed with any amount of text, and Hand delivers several such moments in TO BE LOVED. Of course no anthology would be complete without the “wrap around”, or the glue that leads one segment into the other, and Natalie Ruffino and Grace Kelly Mason handle this task with ease while adding just enough comedy and mystery to keep things moving smoothly in THE MOTEL. There is a lot to like about In the Dark, it’s an absolute blast from start to finish.

Get a group of friends and some beverages, fire this one up on your VOD platform of choice, and prepare yourself for a near-perfect mix of nostalgia and insanity. In the Dark is a small film, but it has enough heart to make up for its not-so-obvious budgetary constraints – and then some. It’s available right now, at this very second, so go get it.

Final ITD poster 1296x1944 200dpi 9-25-15