Its name is no deceiver, Super Dark Times is a f@#%ed up film…a f@#%ed up film with great cinematography, a thoroughly engaging story, and phenomenal acting.
The story takes place in the mid-1990s, where two best friends Zack (Owen Campbell) and Josh (Charlie Tahan) live an average teenager’s life. Both teens have a crush on their fellow peer Allison (Elizabeth Capuccino), though the feeling is only reciprocated back towards Zack, with whom Allison hangs out with (though Zack hides such interactions from Josh). One day, the two boys hang out with their obnoxious “friend” Daryl (Max Talisman) and his middle school buddy Charlie (Sawyer Barth). Things proceed normally until Josh notices Daryl stole a bag of weed from his brother’s room. The two end up bickering and then fighting over the event, with it going south real fast after a very dreadful accident.
The first twenty-five minutes of Super Dark Times is such a grounded, realistic portrayal of teenagers. I’m not certain how much dialogue was previously written and how much is improvised, but major credit must be given to the actors here for so effortlessly conveying how teenagers act. From the very beginning my first thoughts were; “My god, they actually sound and act like real kids”, and such thought process only grew stronger as the film progressed. For the first twenty-five minutes, it doesn't feel like you're watching a film, but rather a hidden camera documentary about teenagers that was polished in cinematography postproduction.
There’s just so much to write about these performances, especially regarding the subtleties these actors perfectly capture. There are the aspects I expected from realistic, R-rated high school performances, such as the overuse of swear words (particularly f@#%) and the teens discussing sex, comics and video games (Josh corrects Allison after she mistakenly refers to Link as Zelda), but then there’s the semi-hug between Zach and Josh when calling it a day (because a full-on embrace would be too “awkward” despite both teens meaning it) and Charlie shaking Josh's hand when they first meet. The latter scene I especially enjoy because it's something you just don't see much in fictional media (name the last modern film you saw where a teenager shakes another teenager's hand when first meeting). I love how the teens do stupid s#!$ such as buy raw squid from a convenience store and dare one another to eat it, and how Daryl talks about his week-long fast from jerking off because when you wait that long “it feels really good when you go back to it.” Daryl is the type of kid everyone knew/knows in high school (maybe you were/are him)—he’s a douchebag, but does so as a way to stand out and divert attention from his own problems and insecurities. Deep down he’s just like every other emotionally-sensitive teen: he just wants to make friends and have a good time. Max Talisman deserves major credit for effectively conveying Daryl’s outward obnoxiousness and inward vulnerability—perfectly capturing such character-type.
It’s not just Daryl, however, but all the teens who effectively showcase their own subtle/not-so-subtle insecurities. There’s a brilliant scene where Daryl discovers Josh’s brother’s weed stash. In one of the most relatable moments (out of the film’s many relatable moments), Daryl asks the group if they’ve ever smoked weed before; Josh and Charlie say no, but Zach claims to have tried it once “while in Colorado”, before going on to try and describe its effects (“the lights got bright”). Now there was no doubt in my mind that Zach was lying (and it’s confirmed he was later in the film), because I’ve been in his position before, right down to the goofy, proud grin he sprouts from saying he did something cool before the others. About 90% of these teen moments I’ve either witnessed, been a part of, or did myself while in high school, and I applaud every bit of the film and its actors for brilliantly capturing such realism.
It may be because of a certain recently released film about kids and a clown, but I took particular notice towards Super Dark Times’ well-written bully character. The character isn’t the stereotypically violent, overbearing bully—though he is stronger than Josh and not afraid to show it—but primarily a verbally-mocking asshole who torments Josh at his weak points. Yet the bully is also seen hanging out at parties Josh goes to and actually gets somewhat along with him once the latter pulls out a bag of weed to share. I absolutely love such depiction, because despite what fiction usually showcases, this is how most bullies are: not violent, one-dimensional psychos out to carve their name into their victims’s bellies, but jerks who pick on easy targets (aka outcasts and wallflowers) because it’s fun, convenient and/or makes them look cool in front of their buddies.
The film isn’t called Super Dark Times just to be edgy, however, and it’s at the twenty-five-minute mark where the story starts to get really messed up. MAJOR SPOILERS BEGIN: As soon as the katana popped into the storyline I knew things were going to go horribly wrong, and they most certainly do as Josh accidentally stabs Daryl in the throat while scuffling with him. The scene is dark, and crazy, and amazingly acted. The actors do a fantastic job conveying the panic, and fear and absolute hysteria that would occur if a buddy got horribly injured. The scene is horrifying to watch as the teens freak out about what to do while Daryl slowly bleeds out—followed by Zach making the poor choice of pulling out the sword (Charlie screaming at him how that’s a bad idea), causing Daryl to flee as he gushes blood, collapsing dead in the woods. The scene is phenomenally well done, with the remaining film following Zach, Josh and Charlie as each finds their own way of dealing with such tragedy (vowing to keep it a secret)…and it gets a lot more twisted from there.
Each teen deals with the tragedy differently. Charlie plays it cool and is seemingly able to put it out of mind (or at least bury it deep within his subconscious), getting pissed off whenever Zach tries discussing it with him. Zach is tormented by his grief and incessant paranoia, hearing people whisper and gossip wherever he goes—their voices presented as a torrent of noise encompassing him—and being continuously plagued by nightmares. Zach’s grief prevents him from further developing his relationship with Allison—at one point breaking down into tears while she’s visiting, causing the confused teen to comfort him in an almost motherly manner. Zach’s frustrations from being unable to kiss Allison manifest as twisted sexual fantasies within his nightmares—dreaming about the two having sex in the woods where Daryl’s body rests.
Josh…gets quiet, and isolates himself for some time before returning to social life with an almost normal disposition…almost. Turns out Josh is a lot more emotionally disturbed than he initially appears, with Daryl’s murder being the catalyst for bringing out such deep-seated rage. Regardless of its accidental occurrence, Daryl’s death (after the initial shock wears off) gives Josh a great sense of satisfaction—the action giving him a way to relieve his aggression towards others who have “wronged” him. What the viewers end up seeing here is the origins of a serial killer, and it’s a twisted tale as we see it destroy a once close bond between best friends.
Super Dark Time’s climax is equally engaging as it is realistic. The manner in which Zach acts is far from horror film stupidity: he grabs a weapon (a fireplace shovel) before going to confront Josh and runs outside to scream for help when the situation turns deadly. Zach acts genuine to a terrified teen in a dangerous situation, frantically swinging his weapon around every corner for fear Josh is there, and then making a mad dash towards the door partway through his emotional speech to Josh about them being best friends (because any normal person would realize Josh is long past the point of saving). I also love how a neighbor does eventually come to help restrain Josh, with the burly adult actually succeeding. I can’t recall a previously-made film where a final confrontation, between the two most important characters, is resolved thanks to a random civilian defeating the antagonist, and I absolutely adore it because it’s something that would actually occur in real life. MAJOR SPOILERS END
Super Dark Times’ gorgeous cinematography combined with the film’s cold, desolate winter setting gives the story an eerily calm, chilling atmosphere. Occasionally the camerawork can get a bit excessively dramatic (such as using a melodramatic circle shot), but the film usually cuts such techniques abruptly short, which while offbeat at times, can occasionally make for a unique style. Did I mention Super Dark Times was made by a first-time director? Kevin Phillips’ directing debut is a messed up film, a wonderfully mess up, oh so realistic film. I wouldn’t mind getting a sequel to this film, possibly set in the future with the characters as young adults/grownups—sort of a counter film (one that I’m willing to watch) to that other sequel being made about the kids and the clown. Give me more high-quality films similar to Super Dark Times than It and I will be a very happy man.