Out of Darkness, a British prehistoric survival horror film, is the first feature-length work by director Andrew Cumming. It premiered in 2024. Uniquely, the film is set 45,000 years in the past, in the Paleolithic era, incorporating a constructed prehistoric language. This stunning film captures the suspenseful and eerily quiet atmosphere of death, the unknown, and darkness featuring age-old fears of humanity. As is typical of the genre, it uses character-driven storytelling but supplements it with stark realism.
More than just a distinctive survival horror movie, Out of Darkness captures the essence of primal human instincts, the dynamics of social groups, and the burdens carried by leaders. Shot in the Scottish Highlands, with all its raw beauty, the film presents danger as lurking not only in the environment but also the unknown and challenges of survival.
Synopsis
The plot centers on six early humans who have crossed the ocean in quest of a new land to colonize. A barren and cold land devoid of resources lies ahead, as undiscovered territory which is guided by Adem – a dutiful young man intending to, and willing to go to great lengths in order to protect his people. His entourage consists of:
Ave – his partner who is pregnant and symbolizes hope for the upcoming generations.
Heron – His son who is still a child.
Geirr – His brother, more cautious than others as he has heightened sensitivity towards the group’s vulnerabilities.
Beyah – A teenage girl who is an orphan and was abandoned by her tribe, looking for a new place to call ‘home’.
Odal – The blind old man comforting as the group’s elder symbolizes, both literally, and metaphorically wisdom, tradition, and superstition.
Their journey inland rapidly becomes suicidally dangerous. There is no food, and their endurance is stretched, but even worse is the fact that something unseeable is watching and stalking them. Panic begins to set in when Heron discreetly vanishes without a trace. The group attempts to find the child while uncovering the malevolent force threatening them for the unfathomable predator. When confronting this predator, physical, as well as psychological threats and violence, start to unhinge the already fragile unity of the group.
The film cultivates anticipation you can feel in your bones as it critically deepens into silence, darkness, and isolation. As the group journeys deeper into the alien land, they confront more extreme dangers along with the terrors lurking within.
Cast and Characters
Beyah, the emotional heart of the film, is played by Safia Oakley-Green. She transforms from an introverted outcast into a determined survivor. Safia gave a powerful performance filled with intense emotion and remarkable complexity.
Adem, the stoic leader of the group, is portrayed by Chuku Modu. He fights to be reasonable in an unreasonable world, and Chuku brings weight to the role.
Geirr is played by Kit Young. He is a character caught between fidelity to his brother and doubt about the decision.
Iola Evans plays Ave. She is emotionally vulnerable and pregnant, which makes her embody not just life but fragility, and truth in emotion.
Heron, the child whose mysterious disappearance creates the heart of the enigma is played by Luna Mwezi.
Lastly, Arno Lüning stars as Odal, the group’s blind elder who solely depends on instinct and tales passed across generations.
The cast is expressive with their movements which correlates to the language used in the film. The non existent modern language heightens the immersion, engaging the audience to focus on the character’s gestures and feelings instead.
Direction, Production and Language
A new vision is put into the film through Andrew Cumming’s direction. Cumming does not use a stock horror movie formula; instead he focuses on the primal core of fear- the wilderness, loneliness, starvation, and betrayal. This enhances realism as he made the choice to use a constructed language for the film, Tola, made by Dr. Daniel Andersson, a linguist. Subtitles as a whole are minimal, adding to the unexplored aspects of nature as well as the alien charm of the setting.
Cinematography by Ben Fordesman is stunning yet bleak. The prehistoric world encompassing Highland landscapes is captured stunningly in natural light. The dense forests alongside the grey sky and barren lands aportion a distinct feeling of threat and isolation. The sound design alongside the spine chilling score of Adam Janota Bzowski heightens the film’s claustrophobic tension.
Themes and Analysis
Survival and Fear
The overarching theme of ‘Out of Darkness’ revolves around enduring and surviving. It inspects the requirement for enduring survival: both physically and emotionally. Fear is another underlying theme, expressed not only in the external omnipresent threat but also in the internal trust breakdown within the synergy.
Group Psychology and Leadership
The social relationships within the synergy are central to understanding the development of the film. The credibility of Adem’s leadership is brought into question, and irrational beliefs start to erode common sense. This kind of tension is reminiscent of classic survivalist tales: the idea that leadership under duress is, paradoxically, as perilous as the external danger.
Myth vs. Reality
The myth and reality are virtually inseparable because the group’s narrative is shrouded by ancient superstition and fear. The viewer is subjected to a blend of reality and fiction beside the group’s novel interpretation of unfolding facts. This blurring adds more psychological horror to the film.
The Outsider’s Perspective
Beyah as an outsider has different insight. From being the least trusted, she is controversially positioned as the most trusted member of the group. This is a perspective shift that Wales transitions undergoes throughout the film. Triumphant and deeply heartwarming, her transformation left quite an impact, especially towards the last acts of the film.
Reception
Critics and fans within the genre gave favorable reviews to Out of Darkness. Its originality, philosophical depth, and atmospheric tone were some of the important fetures for which it was appreciated. While viewers expecting overt horror might find the pacing slow, others appreciated the unique setting along with the cerebral approach.
Critics appreciated the proof of authenticity the film captured, especially the language, the set which was devoid of polish and traditional lines one would expect in horror, and the absence of cheap horror props. Many critics likened it to ‘Eggers’ movie The Witch because of its rich thematic slow tension and so called delicate handling.
Conclusion
Out of Darkness is a daring and bold film that is full of atmosphere. It outsteps conventions of typical horror movies by telling a story from the perspective of ancient human history. By putting viewers in a world that is deeply brutal and unfamiliar, it illustrates primal fears using strong performances, rich visuals, and haunting scores, while simultaneously portraying the psychological thriller of an early human society.
For viewers hoping for gore-packed scenarios, this film might not be for them. However, for those who wish to tick all the boxes of grim beginnings of humanity, philosophical elements, realism, and mood, Out of Darkness is an unforgettable journey.
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