Is The Darkness Worth Watching?
Answer: Maybe not, The Darkness is likely a skip if you enjoy Horror movies.
It features a runtime of 92 minutes and offers a standard storyline that appeals to mature audiences.
The Darkness Review
Last updated: January 18, 2026
Detailed Premise & Narrative Foundations
Released in the dynamic cinematic landscape of 2016, The Darkness emerges as a significant entry in the Horror, Thriller domain. The narrative core of the film focuses on a sophisticated exploration of A family returns from a Grand Canyon vacation with a supernatural presence in tow. Unlike standard genre fare, The Darkness attempts to deconstruct traditional tropes, offering a conventional take on its central themes.
Cast Performances: A Masterclass
The success of any Horror is often anchored by its ensemble, and The Darkness features a noteworthy lineup led by Kevin Bacon . Supported by the likes of Radha Mitchell and David Mazouz , 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?
In summary, our editorial assessment of The Darkness (2016) is negative. With an audience rating of 4.8/10, it stands as a highly recommended experience for genre enthusiasts.
The Darkness Plot Summary & Detailed Storyline
Quick Plot Summary: The Darkness is a Horror, Thriller film that crafts an atmosphere of dread and suspense, using psychological terror and visual scares. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict and narrative structure.
Story Breakdown
The horror unfolds through carefully crafted atmosphere and escalating dread. A family returns from a Grand Canyon vacation with a supernatural presence in tow. The film uses both psychological terror and visceral scares, building tension through what's unseen as much as what's shown. The pacing allows for breathing room between scares, making each frightening moment more effective.
Narrative Structure
- Opening Hook: An unsettling prologue sets the ominous tone, hinting at the terror to come while establishing the rules of this world.
- Character Arc: Character development is present but somewhat formulaic, following familiar patterns without adding fresh perspectives to the genre.
- Climax & Resolution: The final act escalates the terror to its peak, forcing characters to confront the source of horror directly.
The Darkness Ending Explained & Final Analysis
Ending Breakdown: The Darkness attempts to tie together its various plot elements. The finale presents its approach to horror resolution.
The final reveal recontextualizes earlier scenes, 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 horror themes established throughout the runtime.
The final moments of The Darkness reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
Who Should Watch The Darkness?
Consider Watching If:
- You're a completist for Horror films
- You're curious despite mixed reviews
- You have low expectations and want casual entertainment
The Darkness Box Office Collection
| Metric / Region | Collection (Approx) |
|---|---|
| Production Budget | $4.0M |
| Worldwide Gross | $10.9M |
| Trade Verdict | FINANCIAL DISAPPOINTMENT |
The Darkness Budget
The estimated production budget for The Darkness is $4.0M. 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.
Advertisement
Full Cast & Crew of The Darkness
- Kevin Bacon – Peter Taylor
- Radha Mitchell – Bronny Taylor
- David Mazouz – Michael Taylor
- Lucy Fry – Stephanie Taylor
- Parker Mack – Andrew Carter
Top Highlights
Kevin BaconPeter Taylor
Radha MitchellBronny Taylor
David MazouzMichael Taylor
Lucy FryStephanie Taylor
Parker MackAndrew Carter
Matt WalshGary Carter
Jennifer MorrisonJoy Carter
Sara MornellDr. Jones
Ming-Na WenWendy
Paul ReiserSimon Richards
Where to Watch The Darkness Online?
Streaming Hub🎟️ Rent on
Amazon VideoParents Guide & Age Rating
The Darkness is rated PG-13. Parents should be aware that it contains frightening scenes, intense suspense, mature themes, violence. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.
Final Verdict
Analyzing the audience sentiment, IMDb rating of 4.8/10, and global collection metrics, The Darkness stands as a challenging project for the creators. It remains an essential piece of the 2016 cinematic year.
Official Trailer
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Darkness movie hit or flop?
The Darkness is considered a flop based on audience ratings of 4.8/10 and lower collections.
Is The Darkness worth watching?
Based on the low rating of 4.8/10, The Darkness may not be worth watching unless you are a die-hard fan.
Where can I watch The Darkness online?
The Darkness may be available for rent or purchase on digital platforms like Apple TV, Google Play, or Amazon Prime Video. Specific streaming availability can vary by country.
Best Movies to Watch if you liked The Darkness
How The Darkness Compares & Where it Ranks
Critic Reviews for The Darkness
**When the ancient spirits set loose.** Usually horror films are the most clichéd genre, especially when it comes to those scaring parts, all the films use the same sudden sound effects and disfigured human images with the strong makeup or the graphics. This film is nothing less than any of those, but a bit too much in the first three quarters. Like they are keeping some suspense, but it was just dragging to extend the film length and what comes in the final quarter is actually the story with a twist. So when that revelation happens, you would probably lose complete interest on this. Because that's not the demons you're expecting after all the hype was created in the earlier segment. The story was just okay, but it was well known to us in different forms from the different films. In this, it is set in a different location with different cast, so that makes the film is fresh, but it wasn't. Some ancient spirits were set loose when a family was picnicking and it follows them to their house. Now they suffer from some unexplainable events and they decide to get rid bringing the people who can. That leads to the final act where the story comes to end. They say it was inspired by the real event involving a family. So that might interest some viewers to check it out. But if you're an atheist, this is just a joke. From the director of 'Wolf Creek' with the decent performances by Kevin Bacon and Radha Mictchell, the film did not become best among its theme. Just a watchable film, after that you won't going to remember it a week or a month later. Very few might like it, but it's impossible to say who they're, so I'm not going to suggest or reject it. _4/10_
I think I was over-prepared to hate this based on the reviews, because though I will come right up and say that _The Darkness_ truly isn't very good, I actually had a fine time watching it. I won't go back to it, but I didn't have a particularly negative time here. I do wonder if may Greg McLean should stick to Australian stuff though, when you compare the quality of this and _Jungle_ to both _Wolf Creek_ movies and _Rogue_. _Final rating:★★½ - Had a lot that appealed to me, didn’t quite work as a whole._
movieMx Verified
This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.
