Dark Places 2015

     This movie is based on a novel by Gillian Flynn, the writer of Gone Girl.  Libby Day is eight years old and she lives with her family on a farm in rural Kansas.  The farm has been in her family for a long time and she lives there with her mother Patty, brother Ben and sisters Michelle, Debby and Magda.  Runner is their dad and he comes around when he needs money.  The family is struggling and Patty’s sister helps them out by bringing food.  Ben is starting to get into trouble with his girlfriend Diondra.  Diondra and her friend Trey are into drugs.  Ben is accused of a crime and Patty believes they will need to get a lawyer for him.  She doesn’t know where she will get the money and even without the expense of a lawyer she may lose the farm.

      Even though Gone Girl was very popular, I have to say that the novel and the movie were not my favorites?  There was potential to make this movie a good one but that didn’t happen.  I’m surprised that Theron, Hendricks and Moretz took roles and I see why Morton probably dropped out at the last minute.  Maybe they thought this film would be as successful as Gone Girl?  Theron is supposed to be a sympathetic character but she seems more like a loser?  The subject is very depressing and it doesn’t get better?  2* (I didn’t like this movie)

113 min, Drama directed by Gilles Paquet-Brenner with Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult, Christina Hendricks, Sterling Jerins, Corey Stoll, Tye Sheridan, Andrea Roth, Chole Grace Moretz, Sean Bridgers, J. LaRose.

Note:  Imdb 6.2 out of 10, 25% critic 35% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Roger Ebert 1 ½*.

Special Note:  This movie was filmed in Shreveport, Louisiana.  Originally, Samantha Morton was cast as Patty Day but she dropped out just before the start of filming.  There is another movie with the same title but a different subject, it was released in 1977 and it has 0% on Rotten Tomatoes!