Review of Dark Days (2012) by Jin C — 28 Dec 2007

If I could ever make a documentary in the same vein as Dark Days, I'd die feeling accomplished in my life. Back story- if you watch the dvd special features portions it chronicles the director Marc Singer's journey into New York's Underground community of tunnel dwellers even giving up his own career, apartment, and worldly possessions to move down to the tunnels with the community members to document these amazing lives.

At first glance this film is very dark as the title suggests accompanied with a chilling soundtrack by DJ Shadow (who had to be personally lobbied by Marc Singer and his producer partner to get the rights of his music for the film during a private screening in SF).

It really is a brilliant documentary that exposes the neglected underbelly of American society as we witness the day to day lives of the forgotten underground dwellers who make shanty homes along abandoned Amtrak tunnels below Manhattan.

The strife of poverty, drug addiction, and the broken human spirit is all captured in this 16mm black and white film that fortunately for the viewing audience and certain cast members of the film ends on a positive note.

A true life size cinematic experience that scales the depths of the very desperate and hopeless ends of the damaged human psyche to the inspiring & uplifting power of the human will & spirit. Word on the street is Marc Singer is working on his second documentary about US Marine Corp recon units, I can't wait for his second opus.