Straight into Darkness
A 2004 American horror war film directed by Jeff Burr.
Straight into Darkness is a 2004 American film that mixes the war and horror genres, directed by Jeff Burr. The lead roles are played by Ryan Francis and Scott MacDonald, with Mark Hanna and Chuck Williams producing.
Near the end of World War II, two American soldiers facing court-martial for cowardice escape after the Military Police jeep transporting them hits a land mine. Fleeing through what is likely the French or Belgian countryside, they encounter a group of child partisans led by an adult couple. Mistaking the Americans for German impostors, the partisans take them prisoner. When a large German force approaches—believed to be hunting the partisans—the adults agree to release the soldiers in exchange for their help fighting the Germans. However, the German commanders have motives for the attack unrelated to the partisans.
The cast includes Ryan Francis as Losey, Scott MacDonald as Demming, Linda Thorson as Maria, James LeGros and Daniel Roebuck as soldiers, David Warner as Deacon, Liliana Perepelicinic as Anna, Gabriel Spahiu as The Lunatic Priest, Nelu Dinu as Nelu, Mihai Verbițchi as Buchler, and Ion Bechet as Sergeant.
The film first reached home video on DVD in 2006, released by Screen Media Films on June 6 and by Bleiberg on November 13. Screen Media issued it again in 2010, both as a single feature and as part of a multi-feature pack. A Blu-ray release followed on December 8, 2015, from Willette Acquisition Corp.
Critical reception was mixed. Scott Weinberg of eFilmCritic gave it a perfect 4/4, praising how it shifts from a war film to horror to drama, leaving viewers impressed and shaken. Robert Koehler of Variety noted its resistance to categorization and appreciated its personal touch and pedigree, though he felt the themes were laid on too thickly. Ian Jane of DVD Talk rated it 3/5, calling it an interesting, sometimes surreal war film that blends horror and drama well, but gets weighed down by its own message. Jon Condit of Dread Central scored it 2.5/5, deeming it fundamentally flawed while commending its visuals.
- director
- Jeff Burr
- release_year
- 2004
- country
- United States
- genre
- Horror war film
- starring
- Ryan Francis, Scott MacDonald
Lore & Background
Straight into Darkness was produced by Mark Hanna and Chuck Williams. The plot centers on two American World War II soldiers facing court-martial for cowardice near the war's end. They escape after their Military Police Jeep hits a land mine and flee across the countryside, where they are captured by a band of partisans led by an adult couple and consisting of children. The partisans initially believe the Americans are German impostors but later force them to help fight a German force that is not actually pursuing the partisans.
Reader's Guide
Straight into Darkness received mixed to positive reviews. Scott Weinberg from eFilmCritic gave it 4/4 stars, praising its blend of war, horror, and drama. Robert Koehler of Variety noted its resistance to categorization and personal touch but criticized excessive themes. Ian Jane from DVD Talk gave it 3/5 stars, calling it interesting and surreal but buried under its own message. Jon Condit from Dread Central awarded 2.5/5, calling it fundamentally flawed but commending its visuals. The film was released on DVD in 2006 by Screen Media Films and Bleiberg, and on Blu-ray in 2015 by Willette Acquisition Corp.
Did You Know?
- The film was released on DVD by Screen Media Films and Bleiberg on June 6 and November 13, 2006.
- It was released for the first time on Blu-ray by Willette Acquisition Corp. on December 8, 2015.
- Scott Weinberg from eFilmCritic gave the film 4/4 stars.
- Robert Koehler of Variety wrote that the film 'ends up resisting categorization.'
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