Dark Skies is the latest in a long line of horror films that feature a nice, quiet family being tested by a force greater than themselves. Mama and Sinister are two recent examples of this type of film. The difference with Dark Skies, however, is that it's actually very well done. Sure---it's no Close Encounters Of The Third Kind but for an alien invasion film---it's pretty damn good. This is mostly due to the fact that throughout the film you question whether the family is crazy or if aliens are actually among them.
The film follows a married couple---Lacy and Daniel (Keri Russell and Josh Hamilton) and their two sons---Jesse and Sam (Dakota Goyo and Kadan Rockett.) When Sam starts having weird episodes in the middle of the night...Lacy and Daniel suspect something else is going on. It is not long after that they themselves are having weird episodes. Lacy has a meltdown in front of potential clients and Daniel experiences out of body episodes. Soon---they go to an expert (JK Simmons) who gives them more than they want to hear.
A great aspect of the film is the way it presents these episodes. They are not random happenings with no purpose. Rather...they follow a pattern and make the audience wonder just why the hell this family is experiencing these things. Also...the film never peters out. There were many times where I thought the film was going to give us the whole nine yards too early and it never did. The performances are also terrific. Russell, Hamilton, Goyo and Rockett all give the film a very authentic feel---as if we were watching a real family. As well---I liked the mystery involving why, if there are aliens, did they choose this particular suburban family?
All of these aspects combine to make a consistently entertaining and highly satisfying film. There is not a moment when I was bored and although it does sometimes veer slightly into dumb territory..it still works in spades. I highly suggest seeing Dark Skies if you want some good old fashioned horror fun or if you just want to see one of the better, non-Oscar films in theaters as of now.
(4 out of 5 Stars, The film is rated PG-13 for violence, terror throughout, sexual material, drug content and language---all involving teens)
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