Darkness
A family’s Spanish home becomes a claustrophobic battleground against an ancient darkness tied to loss, ritual, and murdered children.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- oppressive
- eerie
- paranoid
- late night horror viewing
- haunted house marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film atmospheric but narratively incoherent, mechanically assembled, and ineffective as frightening horror.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The relocated family’s house conceals an ancient presence and drives the film’s supernatural mystery.
The entity is hidden in darkness, while the film repeatedly builds tension through shadows and obscured spaces.
The plot keywords and premise center on dead children, mass child killing, and ritual sacrifice surrounding the ancient evil.
The film combines loss of a loved one, family conflict, and a haunting presence within the household.
Films like Darkness, and why
The Shining
haunted house horror, family dysfunction, psychological dread, and an ominous domestic setting
The Sixth Sense
supernatural family horror, occult mystery, child-centered danger, and escalating domestic unease
The Omen
ritualistic supernatural horror, child endangerment, hidden evil, and bleak atmospheric tension
The Others
haunted-house mystery, familial grief, disturbing imagery, and slow-building supernatural menace
Movie Details
- Director
- Jaume Balagueró
- Release Date
- 2002-10-11
- Runtime
- 88 min
- Rating
- 5.7 / 10 (441)
Cast
- Anna Paquin
- Lena Olin
- Iain Glen
- Giancarlo Giannini
- Fele Martínez
- Fermí Reixach
- Stephan Enquist
- Francesc Pagès
- Craig Stevenson
- Carlos Castañon
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Darkness about?
- A family’s Spanish home becomes a claustrophobic battleground against an ancient darkness tied to loss, ritual, and murdered children.
- What is Darkness like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Darkness as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Darkness violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Darkness as moderate.
- What did critics think of Darkness?
- Critics broadly found the film atmospheric but narratively incoherent, mechanically assembled, and ineffective as frightening horror.
- Which films are like Darkness?
- Films with a similar feel include The Shining, The Sixth Sense, The Omen, and The Others.
- How long is Darkness?
- Darkness runs 88 minutes.
- Where can I watch Darkness?
- In United States, Darkness is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
