In Darkness - A RMNT Review

In Darkness is a mystery thriller from Anthony Byrne, who’s also the film’s co-producer and co-writer of the film and stars Natalie Dormer (The Tudors, Game of Thrones, Elementary and Picnic at Hanging Rock), who’s also the co-writer and co-producer of the film as well. In fact, this is a personal project for the two as they’re a couple. Once again, I want to thank my friend Irma for telling me of this film several months ago as this was one of those films you probably never heard of. Sadly, it never came to theaters here in Puerto Rico, but fortune struck as I happen to stumble upon it on Netflix! So after finally seeing this film, what were my thoughts? First of, it’s a lot better than I expected! But aside from Natalie Dormer delivering a beautifully strong performance, was the premise well-delivered in execution?

The film centers on a blind pianist living in London, but suddenly gets entangled into an intriguing world of corruption after a neighbor of hers committed suicide, or so it seems... On the surface, this can seem to look like your typical thriller, but thanks to the dedicated writing and direction, the film keeps you invested with the plot as you watch things unveil while also learning more of the main character's backstory and how those two elements suddenly collide. It can slow at times, but that's expected for a thriller such as this one, so take my word as this is definitely worth the investment!

It's no surprise that Natalie Dormer carries this film with her intelligence, beauty and sophistication as she strongly nails the role of Sofia, a blind pianist, who's not what she seems as we learn more of her tragic past that led her onto this plan of revenge, which I won't spoil of course. I also praise her believable portrayal of a blind person as they can be musically gifted and how their other senses can be somewhat a bit more heightened, not like that of Daredevil, so don't expect her to be a master martial artist, but she's still capable of taking care of herself. As for the other characters, Emily Ratajkowski plays Sofia's mysterious and beautiful neighbor Veronique, who while she's briefly introduced at the film's start up to her death, there's a specific reason why Sofia would establish a friendship with her, and again, can't say because spoilers. Neil Maskell as Detective Inspector Oscar Mills may look like someone who wouldn't be good at his job, but the man has strong dedication in connecting the dots as the film progresses and is shown to be a good man too. Then there's Ed Skrein, who you may remember him as Francis/Ajax in the first Deadpool film, playing as a hired gun working for his sister (played by Joely Richardson) who has political ties, and like Sofia, he isn't all what he seems to be either as he and Sofia show strong growing chemistry. As for his performance, I'd say he did a pretty decent job, especially from how you can see what's he's thinking from his facial reactions alone. As for the real antagonist of the film, you truly hate him for what he's done and wish that the man suffers for his atrocities, so kudos to the actor who portrays the character. The characterization may not be much, but thanks to the writing and the acting of the cast, especially with Natalie Dormer carrying the film, I'd say we're good with the characters that this film offers.

From the cinematography, the editing, the sound editing and the location shots, this is a very nice-looking film! Even Niall Byrne's music alone gives this film a distinct identity and how its used to portray emotions and mindset of certain characters, especially Sofia since she is a pianist. I wonder if Natalie herself did the piano playing? You can definitely tell that Anthony Byrne really put a lot of thought into every shot in certain scenes, including the opening scene, which I think was a creative way of introducing the film's tone, identity and Sofia. Truly, a solid first start for the director and I look forward to seeing more of his work in the future!

After months of waiting, this was definitely worth the wait! Anthony Byrne and Natalie Dormer successfully made a well-thought story, with strong performances, fascinating intrigue, emotional complexity, gorgeous cinematography, captivating music, and of course, the film's biggest highlight: Natalie Dormer as Sofia. I highly recommend watching this film as you check it out on Netflix if you're a fan of intrigue and if you're a fan of Natalie Dormer's acting. It's definitely a must-watch, regardless of what critics say!

Story: 4 / 5

Characters: 4 / 5

Production: 4 / 5

Final rating: 4 / 5