By Lee Pfeiffer
Beneath the Dark is an ambitious new chiller that has been relegated to "premiering" on the Independent Film Channel this month. The movie falls short of its ambitions but still has enough strong points to have merited a theatrical release. Jamie-Lynn Sigler and Josh Stewart are an attractive couple driving across the Mojave Desert at night, en route to a wedding in California. A near fatal crash convinces them they should stay overnight at the first motel they come across. It will surprise no one to learn that the chosen place is run by a creepy eccentric and is virtually bereft of any other occupants. (Honestly, night clerks of motels across America should unionize to demand a better image on-screen.) The two hunker down in bed but Stewart begins acting strangely (how else can you describe behavior that finds him disinterested in sexual favors offered by Sigler?). The two begin to bicker and Stewart storms out to the deserted cafe, where he encounters a strange, almost mystical man (Afemo Omilami) who seems to inexplicably know a great deal about humiliating aspects of Stewart's past. This is coupled with him seeing strange messages and apparitions that are invisible to Sigler. The story is entertwined with the troubled life of the night clerk (Chris Browning), who is a perpetual loser, constantly humilated by his wife (Angela Featherstone) who has had to turn to stripping and bedding strangers in order to pay the rent.
Every time you think you've figured out where the story is heading, it becomes more complex and confusing. However, if there's nothing bold or original here, this Twilight Zone scenario is effectively directed by Chad Feehan, who never lets the story become boring, even though it does occasionally become frustrating trying to see exactly what the point of the entire affair is. This much becomes clear: the motel houses a number of mysterious and potentially dangerous secrets. The question is whether the couple will leave before they are consumed by the destructive forces of evil that permeate the place. The film benefits from the fact that Feehan studiously avoids using gore or special effects to elicit thrills. The cast also performs superbly, with Stewart (who resembles young Sean Penn) particularly good. Cinematographer Jason Blount's camera work is particularly effective, capturing both the beauty and terror of the desert locations.
The story has one climactic twist too many but remains atmospheric and unsettling throughout. If you have the Independent Film Channel, give this film a try. It's a worthy and intriguing effort.
CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE FILM'S OFFICIAL WEB SITE AND VIEW TRAILER