Iffy for 14+
Subtle but dull alien invasion movie has scares, edgy stuff.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Dark Skies is an alien invasion movie that, while not great, is at least subtler and more character-oriented than many in the genre; the focus is on solving problems rather than killing monsters. But it still has plenty of scary scenes, including a few jump-shock moments and some nightmare-like imagery (including blood, guns, and death). Most of the movie's content issues surround a secondary character, an older teen who hangs around with the 13-year-old main character: He introduces bad language ("s--t," "p---y," etc.), porn (a very tame but still inappropriate videotape), and drugs (it's suggested that teens have smoked pot). Overall, the movie feels like a throwback to moody 1970s and 1980s-era films, but it doesn't have much substance.
- Families can talk about Dark Skies' violence. How much is actually shown? How much is threatened, but not shown? Which is scarier, and why? What's the difference between the simple jump-shocks and the more nightmarish imagery?
- What's the relationship among the four family members like? What mistakes do they make? What do they do right?
- What makes alien invasion movies so popular? How does this one compare to others you've seen?
The good stuff
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Messages: Overall the movie has a rather hopeless message, but it does show a family working well to love and support one another, despite a few arguments and pitfalls.
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Role models: The characters are realistically flawed and not particularly heroic or extraordinary, and none of them really learns any lessons, but the four family members do show love and support for one another.
What to watch for
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Violence: Frequent scary scenes range from simple jump-shocks to more elaborate, creepy nightmare imagery (a child with no eyes and bloody sockets, etc.). One of the most shocking has a boy entering a kitchen to see his father holding a rifle, his mother dead, and the walls spattered with blood (it's a hallucination). In one sequence, hundreds of birds slam up against a window and a house, leaving little spots of blood. A grown man starts a fight with a teen boy; the boy's father intervenes, punching the man in the face. A woman bangs her head repeatedly against a glass door. A man's nose bleeds. Guns are fired. Scary creatures are briefly shown. Some arguing and yelling.
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Sex: Young teens watch a so-called "adult video," wherein a man calls a woman a "bad girl," kisses her, and fondles her breast through her clothing (no nudity shown). A boy tries to repeat what he saw in the video, fondling a teen girl's breast. She yells at him but then gives him a little kiss anyway. A married couple kisses and is intimate with each other (no nudity shown).
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Language: Most of the strong language is said by an older teen, a "bad influence" secondary character who hangs around with the main character. His language includes "s--t," "bitch," "jock," "t-tties," "ass," and "p---y." The main 13-year-old character says "don't be a d--k." The father says "hell" in front of his youngest son. In another scene, he whispers "what the f--k" under his breath (it's not audible). Other words include "damn" and "Jesus Christ" (as an exclamation).
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Consumerism: Apple iPhones are used and shown throughout the movie.
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Drinking, drugs and smoking: A "bad influence" teen invites the 13-year-old main character and two girls to smoke pot. He slams the paraphernalia on a table and says, "light 'em up." In the next shot, the teens are acting high, but viewers never actually see them smoking. A main adult character is seen smoking a cigarette, and other adults are shown drinking wine with dinner.
Fan Reviews provided by
4
Excellent Popcorn Movie by StangManDans
Dark Skies has everything...
Good tight storyline, a couple of good jumps, good acting, I don't feel the movie ever dragged at any point, and the great thing is the movie did not lean on scares or jumps to MAKE the movie, it actually told a story. Some will like this and some will not, some will go in wanting an edge of your seat constant scare me ride the whole time, that won't happen, even though there are some tense moments. What was even better, the ending surprised me a bit. I like that. This will not win any awards but it is really fun and enjoyable entertainment. If you go in with the attitude of just wanting to see a great science fiction movie about a family having "Alien" type problem, you will be happy.
It was much better than allot of the crap that has been out there lately I will for certain give it that.
Cheers!
3
It was ok by quimsley
Nothing great but I am older and it takes a lot to impress me. The teens a couple of seats downs seemed to like it. The ending kind of sucked. Realized it was pg13 so should have stayed away.
4
Dark Skies by mister2tim
Slow building movie plot with teenage boob grabbing getting emphasis along with a questionable father figure background. Tension and good suspense builds quickly in last half of movie. Good plot ending twist is gripping and is only explained in the last few moments of the film. This movie could be too scary & traumatic for small children.
3
Wait for Redbox by jhs39
Horror flick about family being terrorized by aliens has individual scenes that are creepy but they never add up to anything. Dark Skies never really builds up any dramatic momentum and often seems to be borrowing liberally from other films like Sinister and the Paranormal Activity flicks. There are also ridiculous lapses in logic--if the aliens can get in and out of the house without opening any doors or windows or completely vanish from a bedroom as soon as a light switch is turned on then what's the point of boarding up the windows? If you think the aliens want one of your children why would you send them away to a separate room by themselves when the aliens come? If you think aliens implanted a probe behind your ear why not get a surgeon to try and remove it rather than do it yourself? If a child wakes up with geometric shapes branded to his skin why wouldn't he tell his parents? Then there's the ending which elicited groans and loud comments from members of the audience.
5
Amazing by Comrade1917
This was truly an original take on the alien abduction genre. I felt like I was watching a puzzle come together from beginning to end, if you'r into horror and science fiction, this is a must see!
4
skies by littlehippo
I liked the movie and will probably buy it when it comes out. I did not care for the ending, but other than that i enjoyed it.
4
Dark Skies is here. by mmoreloc21
Glad I chose this movie to watch today. I'm not normally into alien abduction films, but this one is different and very well done. Script is very well written. Movie is along similar lines of the movie "Signs", but not quite that good. Movie is not real scary so teens (13+) should enjoy. Movie is more suspenseful, but provides some good scares. Movie is from Producers of "Paranormal Activity" and you can see certain similarities. The last part of the movie has a major plot twist with an ending that is thought provoking. Some may not like ending, but I found it intriguing and they may be setting it up for sequels.
1
Crap - save your money by docjeff
I am not sure what movie these people have seen. This movie steals from every alien and
sci fy from Body Snatcher to Blair Witch. Lousy and NO ending. Boring and unanswered questions throughout. Better off renting Poltergeist which this film copies anyway.
4
Nice slow build-up to a wild finish by elemperador
If you go in expecting something totally new or thought provoking, you may be disappointed. If you go in expecting a creepy study of a family dealing with some very weird stuff, you will be more likely to enjoy a nice popcorn movie with a few startles, some atmosphere and a decent payoff at the end.
4
Genuinely scary! by dannypants
I had rather low expectations of this movie but it was surprisingly good! I can't say it was highly original or even unpredictable, but the performances were excellent and the fear generated in the audience was created using real suspense rather than through the use of special effects. In fact, a big part of what made this film so successful is the feeling of horror it generated without benefit of special effects. There were hardly any. Yet I found it much scarier than many horror films that were long on effects but short on chills.