Down A Dark Hall (2018) (DVD film review).
Troublesome Katherine ‘Kit’ Gordy (actress AnnaSophie Robb) is sent to the rather isolated Blackwood Boarding School, despite her protests after nearly burning her previous school down. Well, not exactly sent as the headmistress there offers to take her.
Kit’s parents take her there a day early before the rest of the students come. The next day, the other four students arrive, all with massive disruptive chips on their shoulders and all, like her, on medication. Headmistress Madame Duret (actress Uma Thurman) is going to find their special talents. Oh, there isn’t full electricity because the school is so isolated and getting electricians out there is a problem. Discipline is kept by the scary Mrs. Olonsky (actress Rebecca Front) who will spring out when you least expect it and administer over the slightest problem.
Madame Duret is a bit of a rebel herself and wins her students over by dismissing the medication they are supposed to be taking to keep them in check. It isn’t the teachers that are the problem but the way the house takes them over. Kit also realises that all of them, with the exception of Veronica (actress Victoria Moroles) are being possessed by dead artists and composers during lesson time and slowly into their leisure hours. Together, late at night when everyone is asleep, they investigate to see what is going on. That doesn’t last long and although Kit manages to run away, Veronica is caught by Durer and Olonsky.
What Kit discovers is definitely spoiler so be prepared to jump and worry if you suddenly have the urge to play the piano or any of the fine arts.
A lot of this film is done at night. Thankfully, it isn’t total darkness but needed for any kind of horror film. I suppose the biggest lesson out of ‘Down A Dark Hall’ is you become a but more rational when your life is on the line. Got a match?
GF Willmetts
October 2018
(region 2 DVD: pub: Lionsgate Home Entertainment. 1 DVD 92 minute film. Price: £ 7.99 (UK). ASIN: B07GBJWHZ3)
cast: AnnaSophie Robb, Uma Thurman, Isabelle Fuhrman, Victoria Moroles, Noah Silver, Taylor Russell, Rosie Day and Rebecca Front
check out website: www.lionsgatefilms.co.uk/
