The Gentleman Darks
From the Archives
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14m
In the rural backwoods, where living in squalor will keep you invisible, two desperate young men venture into the darkness to meet a mysterious but powerful man. The ominous Gentleman offers the nervous men an opportunity but they must go along with a cult-like initiation. An exercise in suspense-building, director Brandon Vedder injects high anxiety by never defining exact terms, though the Gentleman’s pitch revolves around a secret way of life that transcends the meager living the boys are currently locked in. Tim Stafford plays the Gentleman in a standout performance, nailing a difficult role -- simultaneously menacing and clear-headed. And composer Sean Galloway lends an intense score that builds from a simple drone ambiance. An enigmatic drama constructed with horror & thriller elements, "The Gentleman Darks" is impressive in building atmosphere and tension, while giving few answers.
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