In The Dark Within, directed by David Ryan Keith, we are introduced to Mark, a young man tormented by a mysterious and shadowy past. These experiences manifest as a series of vivid hallucinations that plague him relentlessly, leading him to believe that he must confront his demons before they completely take over his mind. Mark's journey begins when he receives a mysterious letter inviting him to return to his childhood home, which he hasn't visited in years. As he arrives, he finds that the house is not exactly as he remembers it - the walls are covered in strange and terrifying symbols, and the air is thick with an ominous sense of unease.
Here, we see the film's first nods to horror movie tropes, with jump scares, eerie sound design and a spooky, isolated location. But as the story progresses, we are shown that Mark's troubles are not merely external - he is battling demons both of the supernatural and psychological variety.
Throughout the movie, Mark is joined by a small group of people he has known in the past . Kendra Carelli plays Rachael, Mark's ex-girlfriend, who he is still in love with. HemDee Kiwanuka plays Cal, a former friend who is now a paranormal investigator. Niko Foster plays Baxter, an eccentric scientist who has his own theories about the nature of reality and how it can be manipulated.
Together, the group tries to unravel the mystery of what is happening to Mark, and what force or forces may be behind it. As they delve deeper into Mark's past, they uncover secrets that shake them to their core and make them question the very nature of existence.
The film's themes of paranoia, trauma, and the occult are woven together in a way that keeps the audience guessing until the very end. As the plot thickens, the atmosphere becomes increasingly tense, with each scene building on the last to deliver a sense of growing dread.
The Dark Within is a film that will appeal to fans of psychological horror, as it focuses on the inner workings of the human mind and the haunted spaces within it. It's a slow burn of a movie, but one that is well worth the patience required to fully appreciate it.
Overall, The Dark Within is a suspenseful and engaging horror movie that deserves attention for its unique take on the genre. David Ryan Keith's direction and the strong performances from the cast are highlights, making it a must-see for fans of creepy and unsettling tales that will linger in the mind long after the credits have rolled.
The Dark Within is a 2019 horror movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 29 minutes.
It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 3.3.