With the start of the year 2012, it’s not surprising that a motion picture about alien takeover was released just a week prior to it on Christmas day. The Darkest Hour, a Russian science fiction and action type movie, might not have been your first choice to see during the holidays, but it’s worth a watch.
The storyline follows five young people, four of which are Americans, who are stranded in Moscow, Russia trying to survive a believed alien attack on Earth.
The cast of The Darkest Hour was composed of some familiar faces from various different movies. Emile Hirsch (Into the Wild, Girl Next Door) plays the Sean, the lead character and hero who we become most familiar with. Sean’s crush in the movie, Natalie, is played by Olivia Thirbly (Juno, No Strings Attached). Sean’s best friend, Ben, is played by Max Minghella (The Social Network). Anne, Natalie’s doubtful best friend, is played by Rachel Taylor (Transformers, Shutter).
Fans will see much sights of the city of Moscow during the thrilling alien chase the characters partake in.
During the past years, numerous motion pictures about aliens have been released. I Am Number Four (2011), Skyline (2010), District 9 (2009), and Cloverfield (2008). And I’m sure you recall the past decades full of classics such as Signs (2002) and even E.T. the Extra- Terrestrial (1982). Although these all share the mutual plot involving aliens that the movie-going audience seems to grasp and enjoy, The Darkest Hour contains a new twist in the usual story, because these aliens take over Earth by seizing our energy supply leaving it Earth in pure darkness.
This movie ranks at a low 17 on last weekend’s box office chart, only two above Twilight which was released many months before it. The Darkest Hour didn’t match up to its expectations but did not completely darken attitude of its viewers. It is available in 3D, but I did not view it in 3D. This movie will entertain action-lovers, but will not impress experienced alien movie fanatics, deserving two out of five stars.