neumu [ cinematronic ]




	Darkness Falls
	Jonathan Liebesman Chaney Kley, Emma Caulfield, Lee Cormie 2003		From its punny title to its silly central conceit, the toss-away horror movie "Darkness Falls" is nowhere near as clever as its makers think it is. Darkness Falls is the name of the town where the story is set and where the Tooth Fairy is not a benevolent spirit, but a ghastly crone who comes into children's bedrooms by night (she abhors the light) and must not be seen by those she's paying off for their lost teeth — or else! Good guy Kyle Walsh (Chaney Kley) returns home to the Tooth Fairy-plagued community to rescue his childhood sweetie Caitlin and her little brother Michael from the molar-coveting monster. According to the inane back story, the Tooth Fairy has tormented this specific geographical area since, at least, the 1800s. That's a hell of a dental plan they've got there. Anyhow, things get ugly when the lights dim. Director Jonathan Liebesman establishes some moody visual sequences with all the darkness, um, falling. Too bad about the annoying plot-gaffs. Emma Caulfield, so winning as perky, naïve demon-turned-human Anya on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," plays Caitlin, but even she can't pick up "Darkness Falls."