Lights Out (2016), PG-13, ★★★

What's hidden in the dark?

The concept for the film was a lot scarier than I thought because many people are afraid of the dark, knowing that some unknown object or person will come out from somewhere random to horrify the person fearing the room with the lights out. However, when the writers come out with a scary premise to have an unknown person maybe take out people depriving them from their lives, well, you got a solid horror film. Based on my experience watching this film, the result is not that amazing but it demonstrates how calculated and taut its set-up is to get a solid end result.

Paul (Billy Burke) is having a Skype chat with his son, Martin (Gabriel Bateman), late at night while he is working at a mannequin factory. Martin tells his dad that his mother, Sophie (Maria Bello), has been acting strangely around the house. Paul tells Martin that things will get better. Later on, when Paul is about to leave the office, he remembers what his assistant told him regarding a hidden figure creeping in the darkness. Paul walks through the barely lit warehouse and sees the same hidden figure inside the dark and later, he's suddenly pulled from behind into the dark.

A few days later, Martin sees his mother, Sophie, having a "conversation" with somebody in the dark bathroom, maybe protecting herself and her child. When Sophie tells him to go back to sleep, Martin looks back at Sophie still standing in the hallway and sees a creepy hand at the corner of the door. He gets scared and locks his door. Martin's sister, Rebecca (Teresa Palmer) along with her boyfriend, Bret (Alexander DiPersia) meet with an official from Child Protective Services, who fills her in what has been happening with Martin. Rebecca has had a rocky relationship with their mother. Rebecca has an argument with Sophie regarding her neglecting to take her anti-depressants so she and her brother go back to her place.

Maria Bello with the lights out.

It is a predictable movie for sure but it does not overstay its welcome because it just handles enough scares, jump-scares and solid characters into the plot. Plus, it is briskly paced at 81 minutes, as you are engaged with the characters because they don't play like stupid caricatures. They are in the middle of a personal situation as a family and a few other counterparts and that's what got me interested: It is a family in psychological and bitter peril. However, the figure in the dark plays a meaty role into the story as their mother is in distress and cannot take the medicine.

I thought the performances is what carried this movie regarding Teresa Palmer, Maria Bello, Alexander DiPersia and Gabriel Bateman. I believed that they were in peril and had some problems between them. There's also an emotional shift in the personal story that fully prepares you that it is not going to be a happily ever after which takes the conclusion in a more satisfying way.

Again, it is not an original story as this is somewhat parallel to The Conjuring or The Sixth Sense. But, the story regarding a hidden figure and the suspense as to what could be in dark and when it will harm them is what could get you hooked because you do not know as to what will happen to the characters. That's the side that I found unpredictable. As far as horror goes, David F. Sandberg, the director, plays his hand at the genre just right to deliver us a solid mother-daughter combination and enough jump scares to care about. It is an effective horror film for the summer.

***