‘The Darkling’ Follows Misguided Path

Even with light, “The Darkling” remains in the shadows. If you could have anything you ever desired, what would it be? And if an opportunity to have it all presented itself, would you take it?

That is the premise of the USA movie “The Darkling.” This psychological drama revolves around the age-old concept of good versus evil. The good in this case is Jeff Obold, loving husband and father (played by Aidan Gillen); the evil, Bruno Rubin, played by Oscar winner F. Murray Abraham, a wealthy collector of much and creator of nothing.

For Obold, his family provides love and happiness, and while that is satisfying to him, he still longs for more. As is often the case in these types of films, learning to appreciate what you already have is never a simple lesson to learn.

Written by Preston Sturges Jr., the characters in “The Darkling” reason their way into a variety of situations but the underlying issue remains a socioeconomic one. Jeff’s desire to move from a trailer park to a spacious house in the hills exemplifies this. Class differences position the characters so their longing for upward mobility outweighs personal principles.

Although the concept of the film is interesting, the execution of it isn’t. Director Po Chi Leong previously directed another USA movie, “Cabin by the Lake,” which succeeded in terms of guilty pleasure style entertainment due to its engrossing characters and suspense.

However, despite a fairly straightforward plot, “The Darkling” misses the mark. It plays more like an overextended episode of “Tales From the Crypt” than a television movie--and is less entertaining.

With stilted camera angles and a flash-forward time frame, it jumps around without necessarily involving the viewer in much more than the visuals. While Abraham plays his role with zest and Gillen with an inordinate amount of schoolboy giddiness, the characters seem limited and do not fascinate. Affecting a sense of sympathy or dislike in regard to the characters (rather than ambivalence) would make it easier to at least root for or against them.

To enjoy it is to have fun with it. There’s just not much fun to be had. As Rubin asks Jeff, “Haven’t you always felt there was more out there for you?” Watching “The Darkling,” one can begin to wonder the same thing.

Unfortunately for the film, the task of making the joys of family and everyday life seem mundane coupled with the tangibility of newfound wealth left its own residual. All that is left are broken dreams and souped-up hot rods.

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“The Darkling” airs tonight at 9 on USA.