Dark of the Sun
Performance & Direction: Dark of the Sun Review
Last updated: February 5, 2026
Quick Verdict: Hit or Flop?
Is Dark of the Sun (1968) worth watching? According to our cinematic analysis, the film stands as a HIT with a verified audience rating of 6.6/10. Whether you're looking for the box office collection, ending explained, or parents guide, our review covers everything you need to know about this War.
Cast Performances: A Masterclass
The success of any War is often anchored by its ensemble, and Dark of the Sun features a noteworthy lineup led by Rod Taylor . Supported by the likes of Yvette Mimieux and Peter Carsten , the performances bring a palpable realism to the scripted words.
Performance Analysis: While the cast delivers competent and professional performances, they are occasionally hampered by a script that leans into familiar archetypes.
Final Verdict: Is it Worth Watching?
Story & Plot Summary: Dark of the Sun
Quick Plot Summary: Dark of the Sun is a War, Adventure, Drama film that presents a compelling narrative that engages viewers from start to finish. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict and narrative structure.
Ending Explained: Dark of the Sun
Ending Breakdown: Dark of the Sun concludes its story with a mix of closure and open interpretation. The finale presents its approach to war resolution.
The emotional climax centers on character transformation, offering viewers material for post-viewing discussion.
Ending Analysis:
- Narrative Resolution: The story concludes by addressing its primary narrative threads, providing closure while maintaining some ambiguity.
- Character Arcs: Character journeys reach their narrative endpoints, reflecting the film's thematic priorities.
- Thematic Payoff: The ending reinforces the war themes established throughout the runtime.
The final moments of Dark of the Sun reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
Dark of the Sun Real vs. Reel: Is it Based on a True Story?
Dark of the Sun uses real-world events as narrative inspiration. As a war, adventure, drama film, it navigates the space between factual accuracy and narrative engagement.
Historical Context
The film takes creative liberties to enhance dramatic impact. Core events maintain connection to source material while adapting for theatrical presentation.
Creative interpretation shapes the final narrative, with attention to period detail and historical context.
Accuracy Assessment: Dark of the Sun adapts its source material for dramatic purposes. The film prioritizes thematic resonance over documentary precision.
Who Should Watch Dark of the Sun?
Worth Watching If You:
- Enjoy War films and don't mind familiar tropes
- Are a fan of the cast or director
- Want solid genre entertainment
Box Office Collection: Dark of the Sun
| Metric / Region | Collection (Approx) |
|---|---|
| Production Budget | $2.0M |
| Worldwide Gross | $1.5M |
| Trade Verdict | CLEAN HIT |
Dark of the Sun Budget
The estimated production budget for Dark of the Sun is $2.0M. This figure covers principal photography, talent acquisitions, and visual effects. When accounting for global marketing and distribution, the break-even point is typically 2x the base production cost.
Top Cast: Dark of the Sun
All Cast & Crew →
Where to Watch Dark of the Sun Online?
Streaming Hub🎟️ Rent on
Amazon Video
Apple TV Store🏷️ Buy on
Amazon VideoApple TV StoreDark of the Sun Parents Guide & Age Rating
1968 AdvisoryWondering about Dark of the Sun age rating or if it's safe for kids? Here is our cinematic advisory:
⏱️ Runtime & Duration
The total runtime of Dark of the Sun is 101 minutes (1h 41m). Ensuring you have enough time for the full cinematic experience.
Verdict Summary
Analyzing the overall audience sentiment, verified rating of 6.6/10, and global performance metrics, Dark of the Sun is classified as a HIT. It remains an essential part of the 1968 cinematic calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dark of the Sun worth watching?
Dark of the Sun is definitely worth watching if you enjoy War movies. It has a verified rating of 6.6/10 and stands as a HIT in our box office analysis.
Where can I find Dark of the Sun parents guide and age rating?
The official parents guide for Dark of the Sun identifies it as NR. Our detailed advisory section above covers all content warnings for families.
What is the total runtime of Dark of the Sun?
The total duration of Dark of the Sun is 101 minutes, which is approximately 1h 41m long.
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Critic Reviews for Dark of the Sun
Muscular Mayhem! Dark of the Sun (AKA:The Mercenaries) is directed by Jack Cardiff and adapted to screenplay by Ranald MacDougall (alias Quentin Werty) and Adrien Spies from Wilbur Smith's novel "The Dark of the Sun". It stars Rod Taylor, Jim Brown, Yvette Mimieux, Peter Carsten and Kenneth More. A Panavision/Metrocolor production, music is by Jacques Loussier and cinematography by Edward Scaife. A band of mercenaries embark upon a dangerous mission during the Congo Crisis... Back upon release it was met with some consternation by critics who thought it overtly violent and unpleasant, today it is met with disdain by the PC brigade who are unable to view a 1968 movie and accept it as just that! Anyone order a curry in a hurry?! Jack Cardiff's picture is a ballsy men on a mission piece, full of meaty muscular mayhem, acetylene augmented action and preposterous political postures. Wonderfully raw, story sends Bruce Curry (Taylor) and his band of not very merry men on a steam train journey based mission through the Congo. They are to retrieve some diamonds and enact the rescue of civilians caught up in the rampage of the Simbas. Enter a very fractured group dynamic - with Carsten's Swastika sporting merc very much a fulcrum - a number of brutal confrontations involving all manner of weapons, and an exhaustive last quarter of film that's in turn terrifying and troubling as it is potent. A major flip-flop in the narrative annoys a lot, and Mimieux - although not doing anything wrong - is merely dressage to lower the testosterone levels. It should be noted that the pic was filmed in Jamaica and not as listed in some reviews as Africa (splendid scenery utilised, though some pointless back projection work annoys and is baffling), while caution is advised on purchasing a home format copy since cuts have been made over the years. This may lack the ferocious nastiness of The Dirty Dozen, or the intelligent action strains of Where Eagles Dare, but it sure as heck fire punches the gut and tingles the adrenaline beats. 8/10
movieMx Verified
This review has been verified for accuracy and editorial quality by our senior cinematic analysts.
This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.
