DARK SKIES

BY CHRISTOPHER HASKELL
MARCH 1, 2013

“Dark Skies” is formulaic and borrows multiple concepts from dozens of films. However, writer-director Scott Stewart still finds a way to make the most of this familiar story about the most unfamiliar of subjects; aliens.

With themes galore and several strong performances, specifically Keri Russell, who delves deep for this role, “Dark Skies” produces some hair-raising moments and satisfies with a creepiness all its own. Borrowing plot lines from films like “Signs,” “Paranormal Activity,” and “Poltergeist,” the film never feels unique. It makes some rookie choices when dealing with character development and the major letdown of the ending, while an utterly revolutionary finish was right at its fingertips.

Despite all its shortcomings, the film had me on the edge of my seat. The constant cycle of nightly events, made infamous by the “Paranormal Activity” franchise, offers a certainty that occurrences are bound to happen. Also, the aliens’ visuals were spot on, providing an updated look to the image associated with extraterrestrials while still scaring the crap out of you. For the most part, I enjoyed this film, and, with a few tweaks, it could have been a showstopper but instead remains an above-average alien flick.