JohnDoe
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Dark Country (2009) - Trailer Included
The Moonlit Desert Oasis of Nightmare
Poster for Dark Country
Dark Country DVD - Now Available
Starring: Thomas Jane, Ron Pearlman, Lauren German, Chris Browning
Versatile Actor and sometime comic book writer Thomas Jane makes his Directorial debut with Dark Country. Over stylized and trying too hard to impress, the film is designed as a salute to classic noir via comic book sensibilities. Packing dialogue suitable for a graphic novel and obtuse performances that are simultaneously eccentric and clichéd, the film still amuses but fails to intrigue.
Opening with an abundance of shadow play and a voice over that lets us know things will not end well, the story begins in a Vegas hotel room. We meet Dick (Thomas Jane) and Gina (Lauren German), a pair of deadbeat newlyweds that barely know each other.
Embarking on their honeymoon, they drive Dick’s pristine 1961 Dodge Phoenix through the desert. Choosing to travel at night to avoid the heat, lustful intentions are soon violently amputated when they run across the smashed up body of a mutilated mystery man.
Fractured and bloody, near death the Stranger brings a force that launches primal destruction on the strained love birds.
Forcing the issue to get a little perspective
John Doe says:
You go first. No you go. Okay lets make it a shallow grave.
Suffering from studio interference Dark Country was originally intended as a 3D Twilight Zone Noir experience. In an interview with ShockTillYouDrop Thomas Jane said "We're going for the effect that Hitchcock used when he made 'Dial M for Murder' than what we saw in Vincent Price's 'House of Wax.' It's a more sophisticated use of the technology which is what we're striving for….Up until now we've seen all of this PG-13 stuff so I want to do an R-rated adult-oriented 3D thriller."
Honey, I want to go home.
Making a common first Director mistake TJ tries to make every single moment special or memorable and the film is never permitted to find its own momentum. Often it’s easier to enjoy what he was trying to accomplish than it’s the end result.
The screenplay based on an expanded short story by Tab Murphy (Gorillas in the Mist, Disney’s Atlantis, Tarzan) features some fun dialogue, ambiguous scenarios and a concentrated twist that never explains itself. The lack of answers and punchy confrontations serve to fuel the mystery but also hinder.
Lauren German yearns for attention.
As the femme fatale nymphomaniac squeeze Gina, Lauren German (Hostel II) plays with an exaggerated pleasure and pain. Attractive to look at, these are self serving people in an ugly milieu.
Ron Perlman’s (City of Lost Children, The Last Supper)appearance is brief but his commanding presence gets attention.
Maybe it’s just JD’s appreciation of Jane’s presence but even with its shortcomings, the film was still a worthwhile excursion, ticking all the necessary genre boxes. Though he can’t give a recommendation he is sure that some of you out there will still find yourself smiling at the warped intentions of this crime picture book on a road to nowhere.
A mood setting trailer for Dark Country - Low Res
An informative audio interview with Thomas Jane citing influences and intentions for Dark Country...amongst other sides of his prolific life.
Horrorphile
I liked Laura in Hostel II
Screen Adventure
Film & TV on DVD
I think this one will equally tantalize and frustrate you. But, you definitely fall into Dark Country's target audience.
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Hi Shaun,
Not sure if it is available in Oz or not yet. Came out a while ago here.
Have you seen Thomas Jane in "Stander" yet?
Oh and "Hung" is also good fun
Screen Adventure
The trailer for this didnt actually look too good as a reflection of the film