I give "Lights Out" (2013) a very good 8 out of 10. It's filled to burst with atmospheric tension and heart- stopping suspense, and there's a good chance that after watching it alone in the dark, you'll go digging through the closet or the attic, desperately searching for that old night light from when you were a child that you haven't used in years. Still, these are only minor flaws in an otherwise incredibly strong and stylish short.
It was not quite enough of a payoff, ending with more of a whimper than a scream. I also did find the climactic moments (which I will not spoil) to be a tad underwhelming. Once you've seen it, you've wised up to the game, and thus it will never have that same impact on subsequent viewings. I did find that it lacks rewatchability due to its very short running time that is built around a singular sequence. The short is not without a collection of flaws however, mild though they may be in the grand scheme of things. It's refreshing to see a new filmmaker who knows to take just enough time before he strikes. This is especially admirable in today's modern world of horror, where jumps without establishment and loud noises without atmosphere are taking over at a very alarming rate. It knows just how long to take to allow the fear to grow to a boiling point and when to nail us with the scares and jumps. It's very deliberate and cleverly uses its time wisely, neither stringing out the short longer than it needs to be or needlessly abbreviating it.
LIGHTS OUT ROTTEN HOW TO
A prime example of how to appropriately build an increasing and all- encompassing sense of dread, the short is amongst the strongest I've seen in recent memory. As tensions build, and the woman's fear grows, we swiftly move towards a startling and wickedly eerie climax. A figure that is seemingly staring right at her, waiting to strike. We follow a young woman (Lotta Losten, actress and wife of director Sandberg) preparing to retire to bed for the night, when she notices a mysterious silhouette in the distance whenever she turns off her hallway light. Lacking any complex narrative or proper character development, it instead uses its short running length and lack of dialog to build a highly effective and chilling sequence of terror through only expert use of lighting, suggestive camera angles and moody visuals. "Lights Out" (2013) is at its core a very simplistic and elegant style experiment in fear. A short film that of course went on to become the basis of this bonafide new hit. Back to 2013, when Sandberg unleashed a short-film of the same name onto the masses. Sandberg has been tapped to helm the anticipated in-the-works sequel "Annabelle 2." But lets take a look back just a few short years to the humble beginnings of this project. So much so in fact that a sequel is already well on the way, and its up-and-coming director David F. audiences were hooked by its clever scares, solid visuals and competent atmosphere building. "Lights Out" became a massive hit with its high-concept of a vengeful spirit that exists within shadows and darkness. While we wait for X to reach cinemas on Friday, 18 March, why not check out our list of the best horror movies of all time.Just a few short months ago, a fairly tense and exciting low-budget feature was released in theaters.
LIGHTS OUT ROTTEN FULL
Lastly, Bloody Disgusting's Meagan Navarro gushes: "A narratively different beast that demonstrates why West should be given full reign to go full throttle on deranged, savage, and intense horror-comedies more often. Nightmarish Conjurings' Shannon McGrew suggests that X will "turn you on" and "have your heart pounding" in equal measure, while Den of Geek's David Crow celebrates how the film finds the "sweet side of a Texas Porn Massacre." "What X brings to the table along with its well-written characters, great kills, and patient rhythm of storytelling is a genuine meditation on sex, youth, and our collective human terror around aging," says Cinapse's Ed Travis. Many of the reactions celebrate the fact that the characters – porn stars Bobby-Lynne (Snow), Maxine (Goth), Jackson (Mescudi), producer Wayne (Henderson), director RJ (Campbell), and boom mic operator Lorraine (Ortega) – are refreshingly fleshed out. "Without a doubt, X is a triumph in every possible way: it defies expectations, its both thoughtful and thought-provoking in equal measure, and the way that West is able to effortlessly build tension and terror throughout is downright transcendent," Daily Dead's Heather Wixson enthuses. It will appear light gray in color and may look like a powdery patch. "Benefitting from West’s knack for capturing period vibes and from an unusually engaging cast, the pic is meatier than the average slasher film," writes The Hollywood Reporter's John DeFore. This is because a rotting apple gives off ethylene.
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