Film: The Dark Hour
Release date: 27th October 2008
Certificate: 15
Running time: 94 mins
Director: Elio Quiroga
Starring: Omar Muñoz, Pepo Oliva, Carola Manzanares, Jorge Casalduero, Julio Perillán
Genre: Horror/Sci-Fi
Studio: High Fliers
Format: DVD
Country: Spain
Eight-year-old Jesus (Omar Muñoz) has spent his whole life living in the confines of an underground complex. He lives with a group of eight people, all survivors of an unspecified, devastating war. There is the leader Maria, and her lover Pablo; the gay couple, Lucas and Mateo; the astronomer Magdalena; the teenager Ana; the soldier Pedro; and the lonely Judas, who lives separate from the group.
The group is in a constant state of vigilance, as their complex is besieged by not one but two horrors. First there are the Strangers, people infected with a horrific virus which is contagious on contact. Then there are the Invisibles, alien-like creatures whose impending presence is forewarned by a severe drop in temperature, known as the Cold Hour.
Judas had given Jesus a camcorder, and the young boy takes it upon himself to document his day-to-day life and that of his outsized family of survivors. Little does he realise that he could be documenting the group’s last days. As their livestock starts dying mysteriously, the group’s food source is starting to dwindle and they must start to explore beyond their safe area. However the outside horrors are not the only thing threatening the group...
You’ll be glad to know that this is not another “found footage” movie, a la Paranormal Activity or Cloverfield. Although Jesus’ video footage is prominent, it isn’t the main film style of this very atmospheric movie.
The Dark Hour follows the group of survivors in their day-to-day lives: Jesus and Ana attend classes taught by the grown-ups - they also spend time with the reclusive Judas, who owns a film projector and shows them films of the past. Each night, the generator is switched off and they lock themselves in their rooms. The reason for this isn’t made clear until later.
The TV keeps showing a loop of propaganda films – cartoons on how to survive a nuclear blast, and a classy expose on how the enemy is transplanting the heads of dogs onto men and setting them loose. Good job we’ve got nukes to deal with them! We also learn of the horrific virus which afflicts the Strangers, and why they need to be shot on sight.
So far, so pretty standard zombie siege style movie. However, the film soon deals its trump card with the Invisibles. Each night, the Cold Hour arrives: the temperature drops to below freezing and green, ethereal creatures arrive and stalk the hallways, rattling door handles, trying to get into the rooms. These scenes are reminiscent of Close Encounters, with the beams of greenish light emanating through blinds and under the doorframes. There is no explanation as to what these creatures are – although, we do learn that they are attracted to noise and heat.
As worrying as the external threats are, internal tensions threaten the group as well. Maria used to be with Pedro but is now with Pablo - and the two make no attempt to hide their affection for each other. Jesus’ camera catches the dark look on Pedro’s face as the two kiss in front of him. In addition, Ana is very almost ‘of age’, and is starting to develop feelings and desires, which causes immense stress when it’s discovered how she’s been channelling them.
Whilst The Dark Hour isn’t particularly gory, there are a few terrifying scenes. When the group learn of some Strangers taking up residence a little too close for comfort, they decide to be proactive and take the fight to them. However, one of the Strangers slips past them and terrorises the youngsters who’ve been left alone - there is a great shot of Jesus and Ana watching TV as a Stranger lumbers slowly towards them from behind...
The Dark Hour keeps the whys and wherefores deliberately obtuse. Judas has a number of old newspapers declaring ‘The Ultimate War’ and something happening in Madrid, but it is left to the viewers imagination as to why these people are in this predicament – that is, until the final reveal. Without giving anything away, the ending will have your jaw on the floor.
Elio Quiroga’s directorial debut can’t help but evoke memories of other films, but still manages to produce something relatively unique in style and content. The acting is pretty standard, although the child actors fail to annoy, which is a plus. The story keeps you guessing as to what ‘the big picture’ actually is, but remains busy enough that you don’t feel frustrated by the enigmatic clues. The Twilight Zone style ending will leave you feeling like you’ve been whacked across the head, though. MOW
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