Fantastic Film Fest 2024 Review - The Deep Dark

Images courtesy of Original Spin.

In the realm of horror, Mathieu Turi's The Deep Dark emerges as a potentially over-ambitious endeavor that attempts to delve into claustrophobic fears lurking within the subterranean depths. The film, set against the backdrop of 1950s France, sees a mining expedition gone awry. The plot follows a group of miners, led by the plucky Arab newbie Amir and stoic Roland, as they navigate the treacherous labyrinth of their workplace, only to encounter an ancient terror that threatens their very existence. Turi, known for his work on the similarly claustrophobic sci-fi/horror Meander (which played at Monster Fest 2020), again brings a sense of confinement and dread to this feature. However, despite its initial promise, The Deep Dark struggles to rise above the depths of mediocrity.

Let's start where any good monster movie would: the monster. While impressively designed, the film’s “Mok’Noroth” suffers from overexposure. The frequent appearances of the creature diminish its impact, stripping away the mystery and fear that should accompany a being such as this. It's established early on by accompanying scientist Berthier that the creature can be easily killed “with a pickaxe to the chest in the same way you or I would die”, despite the fact that he personally reveres this entity as a god. It just doesn't really make tonal sense, seemingly wanting to both indulge itself as a B-grade schlock horror flick, while still carrying the threat and psychological intrigue of a more serious supernatural spookfest. A more restrained approach could have seriously amplified the mileage gotten from the film’s crypt-ridden creature, given that its motivations are flimsy at best, which might have allowed the few moments where the terror lands to truly shine, rather than flicker and fade into the darkness.

Another of the film's glaring missteps comes in its woefully scatter shot original soundtrack, an art that most horror films have perfected to the point of cliche. Far too often, the score comes across as disjointed and intrusive, abruptly invading the atmosphere of the film with an irritating air of whimsy (I would liken it to the bells one might expect from a lighter John Williams score), which fails to harmonize with any semblance of on-screen tension. While there are some musical choices that prove effective enough, far too often did the air of a family friendly film leak in, and pervading the vibe with random comedic staccato and chime stings, as if the film were trying to convince us we'd just witnessed some kind of magic trick.

On a brighter note, The Deep Dark isn't completely void of merit. The cast delivers commendable performances, with each actor nicely embodying their character, as cliche as the ensemble may be. Their portrayal of camaraderie and desperation go some way in making sure the audience is at least a little invested in their survival. The production deserves equal praise - the meticulous recreation of the mining caves and the ancient ruins is immersive and does well to add a decent bit of value to the film. There's an attention to detail in the set design and the dim lighting creates a sense of unease and claustrophobia, while the makeup work has each miner looking realistically sooty, smudged and sweaty.

The Deep Dark teeters on the edge of multiple potential outcomes, cautiously tantalizing the viewer with morsels of something more, only to ultimately sink into the abyss of the average. Satisfying neither as a popcorn-munching monster flick, a harrowing Lovecraftian iteration of The Descent, or some hybrid of the two, it ends up being less than the sum of its parts. Fans of the genre and big, practical monsters with gnarly, ghoulish designs may find enjoyment in its darker moments, but for those seeking a truly chilling experience, The Deep Dark just doesn’t quite dig deep enough, uncovering a hole that's barely big enough to bury itself in.

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The Deep Dark is screening as part of Fantastic Film Festival Australia 2024. The festival runs from the 17th of April to the 10th of May, check out the festival website for tickets and more info here.