‘Darkness Falls’ brings fright back to horror film

“Darkness Falls” is a gripping horror flick that sets a new

precedent for fear of the dark. More riveting than the lurid

“Nightmare on Elm Street” films, “Darkness Falls” relies on a

well-developed plot and the phenomenal powers of imagination to

absolutely horrify its audience.

The premise follows a recognizable mold: a model citizen

transforms into disgruntled ghastly ghoul because of the town’s own

cruelty. This ominous specter then sets out on an evil mission of

biblical proportions. Namely, to kill every child as each loses the

last baby tooth.

Dispatching this psychopathic tooth fairy becomes the goal of this

plagued community. This indomitable task is undertaken by a motley

group of disturbed citizens..

“Darkness Falls” does not buy into the grotesque and gruesome.

Instead, “Darkness Falls” manages to capture its audience with more

inventive cinematic devices. This film proves that the horror movies

can still scare a desensitized public.

‘Guy Thing’ is profound comedy

“A Guy Thing” is one of those comedies with enough twists and

turns to make you dizzy, but not nauseated.

It is one of those farces that make a love triangle seem simple;

you might need a protractor, T-square and various theorems to solve

this complex equation of a plot. The riddle of who is enamored of

whom, and why, unravels at a rapid pace that never loses a beat. The

result is a film of ceaseless laughs with an astonishing and profound

message.

Julia Stiles’ vibrant smile, Selma Blair’s demure elegant beauty

and Jason Lee’s unmistakable charm make an enchanting combination.

The unpredictable and nubile vixen portrayed by Stiles represents the

verve that Lee needs and desires. In contrast, Blair, incidentally

betrothed to Lee, is the perfect wife, promising stability and

unconditional love.

Lee begins to question the tenuous reasons for his marriage while

evading the rampage of Stiles’ belligerent ex-boyfriend, the stresses

of wedding planning and constant police encounters.

Providing laugh-out-loud comedy is the obvious purpose, and it is

wholly successful at this. What emerges, though, is a film that

scrutinizes the decisions we make and how we should make every

concerted effort to take heed before binding ourselves to

irreversible mistakes.

“A Guy Thing” should win over any audience for any number of

reasons -- enjoy.

* EVAN MARMOL is a Laguna resident. He graduated from UC Irvine

with a degree in psychology and social behavior.