I could see audiences talking about this one for days

by Martin Hafer

I am really stumped with this review…and that almost never happens. Despite having written thousands of reviews, I have just found a movie that really defies description. It even makes me wonder whether I liked it or not. I am just not sure what Deep Dark is all about and it might be worth seeing again or seeing it with friends and discussing it afterwards. It’s THAT unusual and thought-provoking.

Seth McGrath stars as Hermann, a young man with absolutely no artistic talent whatsoever….none. Yet, inexplicably he’s convinced himself he’s a great artist and he just needs to get others to see his work and then they’ll be convinced as well. Unfortunately, his mobiles are junk…and everyone thinks so. On a lark, he decides to move into one of his uncle’s apartments for two weeks to devote himself solely to creating a masterpiece. Soon, however, something REALLY, REALLY weird occurs. Behind a small hole in the wall comes the voice of a lovely woman and it not only talks to Hermann but spits out odd things (I have no idea exactly WHAT this stuff is) and Hermann incorporates them into his mobiles….and he becomes an instant success. But what about the woman behind the wall and what is the stuff it gives him? Well, it’s not exactly a woman…in fact, it isn’t exactly human. As for the art material, God only knows! Exactly what is it? I have no idea…but the thing behind the wall with a beautiful voice has a lamprey-like portion to it and it really, really loves Hermann…both emotionally and sexually. I still cannot wrap my head around the scene where Hermann is having sexual relations with the hole in the wall…but it does the trick and gives it inspiration and soon it begins spitting out other weird things for Hermann’s mobiles. Does this sound weird? You betcha! But it only gets weirder and bloodier and more and more difficult to describe!

Deep Dark
Directed by
Michael Medaglia
Cast
Don Alder, Mary McDonald-Lewis, Erin Hagen
Release Date
4 September 2015
Martin’s Grade: B


So is this a comedy or a horror film or a fantasy film? Well, it certainly has elements of each. But there’s also a certain strangeness, an absurdity that leaves the viewer confused–especially at the end. This ending might keep people thinking and wondering a long time as to what, exactly, happened. Overall, I think I liked it. The plot is highly original, the music is amazingly good and the acting and direction are quite good. Credit for the story and direction all go to the same person, Michael Medaglia–a young and relatively inexperienced newcomer to films. As for the story and its meanings…well, I would really love some second (and third and fourth…) opinions! It has a lot to like and appreciate…but it also made my brain hurt just a bit and left me confused. Overall, I’d say that this is the perfect film for someone wanting something different…very, very different! Perhaps it would make a perfect entry into my “You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet” series… Plus I did see quite a bit of promise from this uber-weird movie.

If I had to sum up the film in a sentence, I’d say it’s like a movie co-written by Salvador Dali, Sam Rami and Emo Philips!