*WARNING SPOILERS*
A review of Lights Out
I think I have found a new directing inspiration. In 2013, David F. Sandberg created a short film (just under 3 minutes) called Lights Out. Unfortunately, I watched the short after seeing the feature film's trailer but let me tell you, I have never been so creeped out in the space of 3 minutes; my mum literally screamed. Lotta Losten (Sandberg's wife) takes on the role of a women who, when she turns the light off, sees a shadowy creature staring back at her. Just that concept creeps me out. After seeing that short, I looked at the couples' other work and it successfully spooked me out in such a short amount of time (a feat in itself).
Moving back to the feature film, I re-watched the trailer and began to do my usual research (some may call it stalking) on all things Lights Out. I already knew about James Wan producing the movie so I knew it was going to be great and it quickly became my most anticipated film of the summer. Unfortunately, I couldn't see it the Friday it was released in the UK but I did go on the Monday and as I sat there watching the pre-movie trailers it got me thinking. Both Sandberg and Wan created a short film that was picked up and made into a feature, kicking off their big screen careers. Just the concept of that is extremely inspirational to me and has motivated me to start writing my own scripts. 
Anyway, onto the film itself. I bloomin' loved it. Thinking back right now, I can't think of many, if any negatives. The casting was perfect, the cinematography was beautiful, the creature was just the right amount of creepy to not give me nightmares (unlike the one from the original. Jesus, that was scary!), and the plot itself was everything I could have hoped for and more. In addition, my thoughts on run times are "keep it the shortest it can be" and at 81 minutes it was a perfect length. I checked my phone at one point in the movie thinking it had been on for at least an hour but in reality only 20 minutes had gone by. So much is put into every moment and it results in you getting more and more excited because you still haven't got to the big horror ending.
The plot itself was interesting because it had characters that you could relate to and a clever and creepy reasoning behind why the shadowy figure (Diana) was tormenting the family. Plus, the creature wasn't just something that would jump out at you, scream a little and maybe scratch you, it full on ripped you to shreds. It had slasher elements (a genre I am very fond of). In particular, one of my favourite scenes is when Bret (Alexander DiPersia) tries to flee the home and the creature follows him. it's tense and terrifying because he is running from something that can't be seen in the light. He is caught and lifted to what I fully expected to be his back-breaking death, when he grabs hold of his keys, switches his car lights on and Diana disappears, dropping Bret to safety. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time and I truly did believe he had run away for good leaving the family to die. Luckily, he returns, logically having rung the police (who unfortunately do die but hey, at least they brought torches!).
Of course, with a name like Lights Out, lighting played a huge part in this production and every single light created the perfect effect. Martin wakes up and leaves his room with a candle (personally, I would have just sat in a corner holding the light to me) as he moves outside Diana is waiting in the shadows and grabs his feet. Martin falls to the floor in a beautiful shot where the candle seems to be the only thing lighting him as he is dragged away. Also, the tattoo parlour's red light created a terrifying scene as I could do nothing but watch as Rebecca moved to inspect what I already knew could brutally murder. In addition to the red lights, there were the blue UV ones. I knew, the moment Martin found the UV torch, Diana would be visible when using it so when it came to the terrifying mannequins I couldn't bring myself to look at the horrific face that sprung into view.
Now to my favourite part of the film. Diana's end. I had guessed that the only way the creature could be killed was by Sophie (Rebecca and Martin's mum) taking her medication. In the scene where Diana threw her pills away I thought maybe Sophie might think about killing herself but it was just a passing thought that I knew wouldn't actually happen cause thats not the stereotype of this genre; the good guys find a way to win without being killed otherwise what is the point. So when Sophie drew a gun to her head I was beyond shocked. I sat and thought no, she wouldn't. As soon as I realised she was going to kill herself I was amazed and excited (not by the idea of suicide but by the breaking of a horror stereotype). Also, the performance by Palmer left my hair standing on end as I put myself in her shoes and felt my heart being ripped out. It was a perfect ending for a perfect film.
I do have one question, however: if you were under your covers with a light, Diana wouldn't be able to touch you but could she just pick up the covers with you inside and kill you anyway?
Overall, this film is in my top 5 favourite films of 2016 (if not all time). David F. Sandberg is joining James Wan as a director I am inspired by and look up to and I cannot wait to see what he creates with Annabelle 2.
Thank you for reading,
Haynes.
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