Review of Super Dark Times (2017) by Frederik M — 05 Nov 2018

Zack and Josh, two mid-teenagers, have been friends for years. They have one of those relationships where the moms pretty much treat the friend as another child. These two are also, I guess I would say, somewhat on the margins of their high school. Zack is a quiet, thoughtful boy who just isn't quite a joiner. He isn't really bullied so much as he is ignored. Josh is a bit weirder (1000 yard stare), and certainly the fact that he's friends with Zack MIGHT be contributing to why Zack is on the fringes of "acceptability." Josh never will be cool or accepted...he's just one of those kids who is a little off-putting.

We are introduced to their relationship in a few brief but well-written scenes. They talk about all the things teen boys talk about. They use filthy language. They say stupid things. And they don't always make great decisions. We also learn a bit about their family dynamics. Zack is an only child, living with his single mom. She is a bit clingy. Josh is the middle child...his brother is in the military and his younger sibling is some kind of prodigy. Meaning HIS family has no time for him, because there's nothing exceptional.

One day, Zack & Josh are hanging out in the woods with a couple of other boys. I don't want to spoil anything, but stupid horseplay and some hurt feelings lead to a very unfortunate misfortune. And their immediate reaction is to cover it up...leading to more guilt, recriminations, rifts and even a touch of madness. Sprinkle into this volatile mix a girl that both boys really like (but who only really might like one of them), and you know things won't go well. Indeed, they go pretty spectacularly UNWELL.

This is not a horror movie. But it is dark and forboding and creepy. A sort of STAND BY ME meets THE RIVERS EDGE, with a smidge of WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN. What I particularly appreciated was the excellent dialogue. For the most part, the banter these teens share is more convincing than usual. The small budget gives the whole movie an unpolished feeling that really serves the mood well. It is generally well-acted, and the actors really look like teenagers. There is nothing glamorous here. It creates a great sense of foreboding.

It falls just short of 5 stars for me, mostly because the ending left me with too many questions. And the editing in final minutes of the film is somehow less adept than it had been throughout the film. The pace of action picks up, but it's as though the director, editor and cinematographer were not as ready to tackle these scenes.

HOWEVER, this is a very worthwhile film, and I was VERY pleasantly surprised when I saw it at our local "art house" theater. Glad to see it available on streaming. Wait until it's dark, turn down your lights and really get into the brooding atmosphere.