The Dark Hour DVD

English-speaking sci-fi/horror/thriller fans, don't be put off by the fact that this film is subtitled. It's a brilliantly dark piece with a genuinely heart-stopping twist at the end, which more than makes it worth investing a couple of hours in.

The film is cleverly shot without relying too heavily on over-egged special effects, and everything hinges on atmosphere - the claustrophobic, desperate, hopeless atmosphere that bleeds from the screen throughout the tense drama. Instead of gore, it builds on the tension of expectation, half-told stories and rumours, and confusion; and by building up such a natural backdrop of terror, there is nothing to distract from the interaction and reaction of the characters to each other and the world around them, excellently played by a very strong cast.

The theme of propaganda runs mockingly throughout the film, and lends a disturbing, cynical edge to it all. We feel as misled and in the dark as the young members of the group do, not knowing what led mankind to this point, what created the infectious mutants outside the shelter, or just what lies beyond life in lockdown.

I felt genuinely moved at the end of this, and would recommend it for anyone after another slant on the sci-fi/horror flick genre.

Elio Quiroga's pessimistic film "La Hora Fría"--released here under the international title "The Dark (sic) Hour"--is a post-apocalyptic 'survivors versus viral-infected mutants' story which, whilst reminiscent of "28 Days Later... [2002]" and others of the ilk, nevertheless manages some touches of originality which set it somewhat apart from the rest.

Made in Spanish and presented in this edition with reasonable English subtitles (if you can live with the spellings!) the story is largely told as though through the eyes of 8-year old Jesús as he uses a salvaged digital camera to record and document his daily life. Jesús is one of only two children amongst a small group of survivors of a global conflict which has laid waste the world with nuclear and biological weapons. Day by day, the group ekes out a meagre existence and tries to plan and prepare for some future return to at least a semblance of civilised living, whilst steadfastly refusing to admit to themselves the increasing hopelessness of their situation. Desperate for even the most basic of daily essentials, the group regularly risks fatal encounters with the virally infected "strangers" who are progressively taking over the underground installation in which they have sheltered for years. At night, they shiver in their beds, in their securely locked rooms, as mysterious "invisibles" prowl the corridors outside bringing the fearsome freezing time of "the cold hour" of the film's (Spanish) title.

In addition to the manifest horrors and countless uncertainties of their situation, the group is shot through with complex sexual tensions, inter-personal rivalries, petty jealousies and differences of opinion. The cold-tone processed print and the grey, almost monotone set accentuate the claustrophobic atmosphere of the work, while Quiroga's screenplay and direction both work to powerful effect, building a subtly overpowering air of suspense to the whole enterprise. The story builds slowly and deftly from quite simple beginnings, and it is quite some time before one notices just how engrossed one has become and how engrossing the film actually is. And, like so many European films that Hollywood hasn't had its hands on, the end, when it comes, is a real shocker.

Strongly recommended for anyone looking for something slightly out of the mainstream of the post-apocalypse horror genre.

I've just watched this, borrowed from a friend. It's a dark, taut little gem of a horror film, made in Spain. There has been a world war, with both nuclear and biological weapons used. Now, a group of survivors huddles in their bunker, hiding from the zombie-like infected, called "Strangers". Also stalking them is an unseen presence, called "invisibles." Against this horrific backdrop is the daily struggle to stay sane, and obtain food and medicine from outside the bunker. Until one day,the Strangers break in...A good cast of unknowns (to me, anyway) makes this a compelling story, with the facts about the war and its' effects being drip-fed to the viewers. Watch it now before the Americans remake it!