Darkness Falls

When it comes to the crunch, the Tooth Fairy shouldn’t really be the scariest of creatures – a kindly little flying creature who exchanges shiny pennies for filthy little teeth. A tad on the crazy side, certainly, but not scary. However, Darkness Falls attempts to attack our childish preconceptions, and does so with enough halfcrazed vitality and bombastic pomposity to make it one of the most purely enjoyable horror films to have popped out of the birth canal of the American mainstream in some time.

Many years ago, so we are told, Old Granny Tooth (or something like that) was burned to a frazzle by reactionary small-town folk who believed her to be responsible for some kiddie killing. Rightly miffed by the Joan of Arc treatment, she refused to rest in peace, and haunts the town of Darkness Falls, ensuring death to all those who see her as she comes to collect teeth in the dead of night. So, in the present day, a race against time begins to prevent a batch of new murders as the Tooth Fairy takes her revenge upon the town that destroyed her.

Basically, then, Darkness Falls is a amalgamation of ghost story and slasher film, as the Tooth Fairy takes her victims in the dark, spreading death and tartar everywhere. Wisely, Liebesman opts to keep his ghoul hidden (for the most part) in the shadows that permeate the film’s settings, bringing a sense of unease in the unknown that is often lacking in modern horror. And, as Darkness Falls is the latest in a long line of “teen-friendly” American horror flicks, there’s precious little in the way of blood and gore – this is more of a roller coaster than a blood bath.

Darkness Falls is a fun, fast moving and funky little horror film that makes for a superb evening’s viewing, and is the perfect build-up to any Hallowe’en festivities you might have planned. If you’re after a movie that will make you jump, scream (just a little) and give you plenty of chills for your money, then this is the perfect ticket. And it’s an absolute must for couples…