Dark Skies (5/28/2013)

Rated PG-13 for violence, terror throughout, sexual material, drug content and language – all involving teens.

Starring Keri Russell, Josh Hamilton, Dakota Goyo and J.K. Simmons

Directed by Scott Stewart (Legion)

This may not be the first alien invasion movie, but it is one of the better ones.

From the producer of Paranormal Activity, Insidious, and Sinister comes Dark Skies, a supernatural thriller that follows a young family living in the suburbs. As husband and wife Daniel and Lacey Barret witness an escalating series of disturbing events involving their family, their safe and peaceful home quickly unravels. When it becomes clear that the Barret family is being targeted by an unimaginably terrifying and deadly force, Daniel and Lacey take matters in their own hands to solve the mystery of what is after their family.

I’m not a fan of Scott Stewart’s Legion, and the trailer made the film look less than interesting, but Dark Skies was seriously better than I expected. Stewart managed to tell a decent story while keeping me on the edge of my seat, except for the few times when I jumped out of my seat. Well done Mr. Stewart.

Keri Russell and Josh Hamilton were perfect as the married suburban couple. They were believable and authentic which made me care about them instantly. Dakota Goyo and Kadan Rockett are great together as bothers. Finally there is J.K. Simmons. He does not have a lot of screen time, but his one scene is riveting.

The pace of the film appears to be on the slower side, but instead of slow a better way to describe it would be deliberately intense. There are plenty of scenes where nothing is happening, but you feel like something is going to happen. That causes you to be edgy and so when something does happen it causes the exact reaction the filmmakers wanted.

With so much done well, you may be asking why I only gave it a “rental.” Well, like most science-fiction films, Dark Skies has plenty of holes in the plot. For example, we know that the Greys can enter and exit the house without setting the alarms off (i.e. opening and/or closing the doors). So why does Daniel spend the whole day boarding up the windows and doors? Why does the family separate after specifically saying, “We need to stay together”?

I don’t know the answers…and neither did Scott Stewart.

Dark Skies is far from perfect, but it is definitely worth a rental.

SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
The language is really mild for this PG-13 film.

While there is no nudity, there is one scene where Daniel and Lacy are seen kissing in bed and sex is implied. There is a scene where Jesse and her friend begin to watch an adult film. We don’t see any nudity but the “teacher” grabs the woman’s breast. There is also a scene where smoking marijuana is implied.

When it comes to the Greys (aliens), they are pretty creepy, and will definitely scare younger kids. There are also plenty of scary scenes, including a few jump-shock moments and some nightmare-like imagery (including blood, guns, and death.)

CONVERSATION STARTER

1. How do you think Lacey and Daniel felt after they meet with Edwin Pollard?


2. In the film, the family was filled with fear and hopelessness. In Romans 15:13 Paul writes: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Have you ever felt hopeless? Tell me about it.


3. No matter what we’re going through, we can always find hope in God. Read Romans 12:12: “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” How can we be joyful in hope this week?


4. How can we be patient in affliction this week?


5. How can we be faithful in prayer this week?