Year: 2016
Runtime: 92 min
Language: English
Director: Greg Mclean
When night falls on a seemingly peaceful suburban home, the sudden disappearance of 8-year-old Briana shatters her family's sense of security. A frantic search for the missing girl reveals a terrifying and malevolent force hidden within the shadows. As the family struggles to find her, they must confront a sinister presence that threatens to destroy everything they hold dear.
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Read the complete plot breakdown of The Darkness (2016), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.
The movie opens with a family of four enjoying a vacation and hosting a cookout with friends. As the parents reminisce about life and relish the food, Andrew (played by David Mazouz), the teenage son of their friends, decides to venture into the canyon alongside Stephanie and Mikey — the teenage daughter and young son of the main family, respectively. The parents briefly chat about Bear Grylls, reminding their kids to stay cautious during their exploration.
As the trio delves into the woods, Andrew shares a spooky tale about the Grand Canyon, claiming it’s haunted by legendary guardians of the spirit world, sparking both intrigue and fear in Mikey. To alleviate his brother’s anxiety, Andrew hands over his watch just before Mikey stumbles and falls into the Canyon. Remarkably uninjured, Mikey discovers several black rocks etched with symbols, pocketing them without a second thought.
When both families return home, a series of unsettling events unfold. Mikey’s parents, Kevin Bacon and Radha Mitchell, attempt to share an intimate moment, only to be interrupted by strange noises around the house. Mikey claims these disturbances are due to an imaginary friend named “Jenny” who resides within the walls. Tension rises when Stephanie confronts their mother over perceived invasions of privacy, causing friction in the household. Meanwhile, Mikey’s behavior grows increasingly erratic, and during a routine moment of play, he manages to unnerve his mother by startling her under a blanket.
As days pass, the eerie occurrences multiply. Mikey finds himself drawn to strange sounds coming from the attic, attributing it to Jenny’s influence. His father, Peter, grapples with the weight of his son’s autism, becoming exasperated by Mikey’s unpredictable behavior. He senses a creeping danger lurking just out of sight, indicated by ominous occurrences, including sinister markings appearing in various places around their home, particularly surrounding Stephanie’s personal space.
In an emotionally charged confrontation, Stephanie’s struggle with anorexia is revealed, urging their father to seek professional help for her. Mikey becomes increasingly unsettled, rattling his grandmother during a visit, which leads to concerns over his mental state and establishes an underlying tension threading through the family dynamics.
Mikey’s fixation on the mysterious rocks leads to disastrous consequences, including a devastating fire in his room. As his mother discovers these haunting transformations, she becomes increasingly desperate to protect him while searching for answers. A revelation about the Anasazi Indians hints at a curse tied to the rocks — suggesting they must return them to dispel the darkness that’s enveloping their family.
In a series of movement shifts, they pursue help from a spiritual healer, Teresa, and her translator, Gloria, embarking on a journey to cleanse their home. However, supernatural forces retaliate, throwing them into chaos and endangering their family unity. Amidst the havoc, Peter and Mikey confront the demons, with a fierce battle that tests the bond every family member shares.
> “I’m not afraid,” Mikey declares, stepping up to reclaim his family’s safety. Surrounded by temptation from the darkness, he becomes their beacon of hope, allowing them all to escape the horrors they faced. The climax evolves as the family unites, confronting their fears and ultimately cleansing their home from the sinister spirit.
The film concludes with a serene picnic, contrasting the previously chaotic atmosphere, as they finally embrace their renewed sense of togetherness — a tale woven with the threads of mystery, struggle, and profound familial love.
Last Updated: October 27, 2024 at 20:17
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Ordinary families confronting an otherworldly evil that preys on their weaknesses.If you liked The Darkness, find more movies where a family battles a supernatural curse or entity. These stories combine domestic drama with intense supernatural horror, exploring how familial bonds are tested by forces from the shadows.
The narrative typically begins with a disruption to a family's normal life, often linked to a cursed object or location. The supernatural presence exploits existing family tensions—addiction, grief, or mental health struggles—escalating the threat from eerie occurrences to direct endangerment, culminating in a desperate confrontation to reclaim their home and sanity.
Movies are grouped here for their shared core premise: a family, not just individuals, as the target of a supernatural antagonist. The horror stems from the violation of domestic safety and the emotional weight of protecting loved ones from an incomprehensible threat.
A consistent, unnerving buildup where reality unravels piece by chilling piece.Discover movies like The Darkness that feature a steady, unsettling pace. These films prioritize a growing sense of dread over jump scares, perfect for viewers who enjoy a tense, psychological buildup in their supernatural stories.
The narrative unfolds methodically, with each event compounding the last to deepen the atmosphere of terror. There are no significant lulls; the tension is constant, making the protagonist's psychological deterioration feel inevitable. The straightforward plot focuses on the cause-and-effect of the supernatural incursion.
These films are united by their specific pacing and tone—a 'steady' narrative engine that delivers a continuous stream of dread. They share a focus on psychological unraveling within a straightforward supernatural framework, creating a cohesive experience of sustained suspense.
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Track the full timeline of The Darkness with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.
Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape The Darkness. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.
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