Dark Place, The

By: RES

THE DARK PLACE was shot, and shown theatrically, at the widescreen aspect ratio of 2.4:1. The box of the Breaking Glass Pictures DVD lists 2.4:1. However, they give us a version in 1.78:1--slightly enlarged image with more visual information on the top and bottom, but quite a bit less on the sides. According to the director, who intended 2.4:1, Breaking Glass was provided with two versions (no idea why) and they chose the less accurate one--further, listing the wrong one the box. Even weirder, the trailer, alternate opening scene, and photo gallery on the DVD *are* in 2.4:1--showing what the film is really supposed to look like, and it's preferable. Also, the DVD has old-style closed captions rather than subtitles for the hearing impaired (SDH) like most modern DVDs. As far as I know, higher-resolution TVs and HDMI connections do not support CC, so if you're hearing-impaired, you have to watch the DVD at 480i resolution and connect with component or composite cables--if your TV has jacks for these options. On a computer, the DVD drive will read out the title as "Corpus Christi": someone goofed and didn't bother to change the title before running off the copies. I thought Breaking Glass was better than marketing a DVD with so much carelessness.

By: Amos Lassen

Keegan Dark returns to the heart of California's winery valleys to make peace with his long-estranged family. Instead, he finds a harrowing mystery that endangers his family's lives and livelihood. This is a film that takes us to new places and one of the new thrillers around these days with mainly gay characters but the beauty of the film is that sexuality doesn't really matter. The characters could have been straight as well and the plot would remain the same. This seems to be the way the gay lifestyle is going these days with the gaining of rights that we were so long deprived of. The film has nothing to do with being gay; our characters just happen to be so. This is "a real thriller, with a beautiful setting, gorgeous actors, with complicated relationships". There are issued of betrayal, hope, greed, parental problems and love.

"Keegan Dark, is a modern-day Sherlock Holmes - just add gay". The plot examines what love and family means to us all. There just happens to be "a bit of and carnage along the way". The hero has flaws yet also has a wonderful gift and he leads us into an adventure that will not be soon forgotten.

The film stars Blaise Embry as Keegan Dark, Timo Descamps as Wil Roelen and Sean Paul Lockhart as Jake Bishop. It was written and directed by Jody Wheeler and produced by Carlos Pedraza, J.T. Tepnapa and Jody Wheeler. Executive Producer Steve Parker. "THE DARK PLACE" is coming soon to festivals worldwide.

Here is what some of those who saw an early showing had to say.

"Couldn't stop watching it. Love it a lot!"

"It's captivating, intriguing and unpredictable."

"I really liked the movie. The cinematography is awesome and the story was holding up and giving new twists until the very end."

"You are the first of several crowd fundings I backed, that stand by their word and deliver the rewards, and even more like this extra screening. Thank you!"

"A few unexpected plot twists. Refreshing to watch a 'regular' story with a gay storyline where being gay isn't an issue."

"The actors delivered fine performances."

"The flashbacks were cool in general but particularly slick when Keegan described past events while they played around him."

"It's a mystery with a twist in that the main character has such a different perception of the world that even the people closest to him aren't certain they can trust his conclusions - or his feelings."

"I really enjoyed The Dark Place, and am very pleased to have been a part of funding it through Kickstarter. The story was excellent, the acting superb, the cinematography was first-rate, and the directing and production values were all very high. The quality of this film is precisely what I was hoping it would be."

"Loved that it is a psycho mystery revolving around gay characters, rather than a gay movie. Very enjoyable."

"Well done! Great acting, directing, liked the story line. There were a lot of interesting details surrounding Keegan's memories. I liked how you showed what going on in his head. There were some surprising twists that I didn't see coming and some funny moments."

"This [is a] great little movie that's kind of a mystery/thriller with a really interesting script and very likable actors. I didn't think of it as a gay movie. It's funny ... I guess all the guys were gay [but] I didn't think of it as a gay movie. Just a good thriller - with a good many dead bodies at the end."

"Absolutely loved it! Mysterious and engaging!"

"Perfectly executed!!!"

"... Keeps you on the edge of your seat the entire film."