Watch Darkness Reigns

Darkness Reigns is a 2018 horror movie directed by Andrew P. Jones that focuses on the production of a horror movie that takes a sinister turn. The film follows a director named Daniel, played by Zachary Mooren, and his crew as they set out to shoot a low-budget horror movie in a supposedly haunted hotel. While the cast and crew are initially excited for the opportunity to work on the film, they soon realize that there may be some truth to the hotel's haunted reputation.

The movie begins by introducing the characters, who are all eager to start work on the horror film. Daniel is the ambitious and determined director, while actress Cassie, played by Linara Washington, is somewhat skeptical of the supernatural elements of the movie. The rest of the cast and crew, including the producer and various production assistants, are all excited to be on set and begin filming.

As the crew begins to film, strange things begin to happen. Lights flicker, strange noises are heard, and the more superstitious crew members begin to feel uneasy. Despite these early warning signs, Daniel is determined to press on with the production and believes that the strange occurrences will only add to the authenticity of the film.

As the shoot progresses, things begin to spiral out of control. The crew starts to experience a series of terrifying events that seem to be directly related to the supernatural occurrences at the hotel. Actress Casper Van Dien plays himself in the film, as a well-known actor who portrays the antagonist in the horror movie being filmed. He is also on the set and is meant to attend on the movie's screening later on. As things become more and more frightening, the crew become increasingly desperate for answers and understanding.

The stakes begin to heighten, and the movie takes a significant turn when the crew finds themselves stranded in the haunted hotel overnight. Trapped in the building with no way to escape, they must confront their fears and attempt to survive until morning. The crew begins to learn more about the history of the hotel and the supernatural forces residing there, and quickly realize that there may be no escape from the malevolent spirits that now surround them.

The movie plays on the viewer's preconceptions of the horror genre by offering an initial sense of familiarity, the making of a horror movie. But then transforms into a supernatural horror, utterly terrifying and unpredictable. The plot has plenty of unexpected twists and turns, and the film’s climax is genuinely unpredictable, keeping its audience on the edge of their seats.

The movie's most significant strength is its use of ambiance, which is perfected to terrorize the viewer with eerie vibes and squeaky camera techniques. The uncanny music heightens the environment’s effect, making the viewer jump at every sound, every creak and every door slam. The jump scares employed in the film are not cheap, and the moviegoer can sense the tension building as the characters contemplate their ultimate fate.

The acting in the movie is excellent, with the cast doing an excellent job of conveying realistic emotions and reactions to the events at hand. Zachary Mooren's portrayal of the ambitious director was superb, Linara Washington's performance as the skeptical actress was impressive, and Casper Van Dien's cameo was fun and fitting.

In conclusion, Darkness Reigns is a fantastic take on the horror genre with its low-budget movie setting and an unexpected supernatural twist. It will scare you, make you jump and wonder, keeping you on the edge of your seat. The film showcases strong performances by the cast, perfect horror ambiance, and an excellent balance of jump scares and suspense that manages to maintain the perfect level of terrifying throughout. If you're a fan of horror and suspense, it's definitely worth checking out.

Darkness Reigns is a 2018 horror movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 15 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 3.9.