And Soon the Darkness (Robert Fuest, 1970)

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Suspect
Joined: Tue Apr 21, 2009 2:24 pm

And Soon the Darkness (Robert Fuest, 1970)

#1 Post by Suspect » Mon Aug 10, 2009 8:04 pm

I watched this again for the first time in years and was curious to see if it had any fans on here?

I think it's a great little movie, solidly shot and efficiently told. It does have flaws (would you even consider humouring let alone follow the stalker with the sunglasses?) and it isn't too hard to guess who the killer is once they engage with the protagonist, but the pace and atmosphere save the (this) viewer from caring too much. Director Fuest conjures up some atmospheric scenes - particularly the disappearance - and to me the first 30-40 minutes predated the same nihilistic feel as the 'The Vanishing'. With the exception of Jane there are arguably no welcoming or wholly benevolent characters, everyone she meets seems to be menacingly odd - the bizarrely obsessed stalker, the English woman with her rant about sexual promiscuity, etc. This all ups the atmosphere and alienates both Jane and the audience, accentuated by the smart decision not to subtitle the French dialogue.

By chance I also noticed that the film is being remade and is scheduled to be released next year, this time set in Argentina, which isn't too surprising seeing as the story can fit into the 'fear of the foreign' vein that has been popular in modern horror since 'Hostel' and 'Wolf Creek'.

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zedz
Joined: Sun Nov 07, 2004 7:24 pm

Re: And Soon The Darkness (1970, Robert Fuest)

#2 Post by zedz » Mon Aug 10, 2009 9:51 pm

This is a sturdy little film, with great tension and atmosphere. I think it also anticipates The Texas Chainsaw Massacre in some respects. I can't imagine that a remake in these times will add anything to the experience.

Fuest seems to have spent most of his career in television, but he's also responsible to the fabulously campy Dr Phibes movies. If you've never seen them, treat yourself: they're ridiculously entertaining, and among the most creative of the 'themed murders' genre.

This trailer gives away a lot, but there's much, much more where it came from.

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colinr0380
Joined: Mon Nov 08, 2004 4:30 pm
Location: Chapel-en-le-Frith, Derbyshire, UK

Re: And Soon The Darkness (1970, Robert Fuest)

#3 Post by colinr0380 » Tue Aug 11, 2009 3:55 am

It certainly manages to make something as innocuous as a cycling trip through France nightmarish!

I also love And Soon The Darkness, which lives up to its title though, as Suspect mentions, it generates a fair amount of its terror and tension during its first half in broad daylight. It certainly deserves to be considered as one of the best of the "my child/wife/best friend has disappeared while on holiday in a foreign country" genre along with The Vanishing and Frantic (it seems like France is to blame for most of these disappearances! And if we factor in thrillers like Taken and Target I cannot help but wonder if filmmakers have something against the country! I suppose we could also add L'Avventura too in order to balance things out a little!)

I also agree with zedz that the remake will probably not add anything, but it has an even tougher job since the part of the frisson generated by the film is that the girl who goes missing is played by Michelle Dotrice, best known for her role as Frank Spencer's long suffering wife Betty in Some Mothers Do 'ave 'em! This was certainly a different role for her! The girl left behind to search is played by Pamela Franklin, who earlier had played one of the spooky children in The Innocents.

The Dr Phibes films are great but far more blackly comic than this film which is rather nihilistic in a bleaker way.

Suspect
Joined: Tue Apr 21, 2009 2:24 pm

Re: And Soon The Darkness (1970, Robert Fuest)

#4 Post by Suspect » Tue Aug 11, 2009 6:58 am

colinr0380 wrote:I also agree with zedz that the remake will probably not add anything, but it has an even tougher job since the part of the frisson generated by the film is that the girl who goes missing is played by Michelle Dotrice, best known for her role as Frank Spencer's long suffering wife Betty in Some Mothers Do 'ave 'em! This was certainly a different role for her!
This was my biggest problem when watching the film, the first 10-15 minutes seemed to have dated heavily, and it took a while for me to put aside the fact Betty Spencer was calling some stranger 'dishy' and was hanging around roadside enclosures gagging for it. Once things got going, however, I forgot completely, or more accurately, didn't care and got swept up in it.

I haven't seen Fuest's first film ('Just Like A Woman', or some variation on the Dylan song) but I've seen some of his episodes of 'The Avengers' and, of course, 'Dr Phibes'. On the filmography Fuest doesn't seem to give much credence to his other films ('The Devil's Rain', etc.) due to budgetry restrictions, but I'd be interested to see what he's done with them. From what I've seen I think it is fair to say he has a talent as a filmmaker, and maybe his other works will throw up a little gem of some sort.

HarryLong
Joined: Tue Nov 25, 2008 12:39 pm
Location: Lebanon, PA

Re: And Soon The Darkness (1970, Robert Fuest)

#5 Post by HarryLong » Tue Aug 11, 2009 12:45 pm

All of Fuest's films are visually interesting to a degree, but the Phibes films are probably his best - though shot relatively inexpensively, they don't seem to be strugging against a limited budget the way the others do.
I can only suppose that AND SOON THE DARKNESS is going to be remade because it will lend itself to the Torture Porn approach ...

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tartarlamb
Joined: Sun Nov 07, 2004 1:53 am
Location: Portland, OR

Re: And Soon The Darkness (1970, Robert Fuest)

#7 Post by tartarlamb » Fri Aug 21, 2009 4:00 pm

zedz wrote:Fuest seems to have spent most of his career in television, but he's also responsible to the fabulously campy Dr Phibes movies. If you've never seen them, treat yourself: they're ridiculously entertaining, and among the most creative of the 'themed murders' genre.
Its really sad that Fuest's career went the soft-core and TV route, since his movies have such an unusual visual flair and camp appeal. The Phibes films are sublime. But I suppose The Devil's Rain would be enough to sink anyone. William Shatner, Anton LaVey, Ernest Borgnine and, oh my god, even Ida Lupino in a ghost town overrun by hooded, wax-faced satanic cult members. How can you manage to make such a boring movie with a setup like that? On the other hand, I guess there was no other appropriate way for John Travolta to learn about Scientology.

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MyNameCriterionForum
Joined: Sat Jun 21, 2008 5:27 am

Re: And Soon the Darkness (Robert Fuest, 1970)

#8 Post by MyNameCriterionForum » Fri Sep 11, 2009 1:30 pm

I know this post adds nothing to the discussion, but I can't resist: Pamela Franklin (the brunette) is absolutely stunning. Good Lord. And the fact that she's on a bicycle half the time only adds to the "tension" if you know what I mean.

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