How far would you be willing to go if you lost a child, and had a chance to bring them back?
This is what one, young, heroine-addicted mother is forced to confront in the new film From Black.
Because, after she loses her son- partially as a result of her own neglect- she's gets such a chance.
When she meets a mysterious man, who teaches her about an ancient mystical ritual, through which she can barter for the return of someone she has lost.
This man claims he learned about the ritual, after losing his own daughter.
And walks her through the steps, required to initiate an agreement, with a dark, occult force...who promises to bring her son back from the dead, once all the steps of the ritual have been carefully followed.
That is, unless, he's just a conman, who has set out to entrap her in a snare, designed to free himself from a deal he could not renege on.
Either way...it unleashes a demon, from which she cannot escape.
Inevitably landing her in jail.
Under the watchful eye of her sister, who works as a detective, that is trying to understand what, exactly, her sister has been going through...and why.
In a desperate attempt to help her.
The story is told to us told through a series of flashbacks, as our protaganess explains the situation to her detective sister.
Though, unsurprisingly, she doesn't believe her.
Until she is forced to confront her doubt, face on.
The flashbacks are broken up into the different stages of the ritual, as she went through them, on the path to achieve her goal.
Giving the whole story an air of mystery.
Of course, it cannot be ignored that this is a bigger budget, high concept, ripoff of the 2016 film A Dark Song.
I noticed a couple other reviewers commenting on the similarities between the two films.
So I went and watched it for myself.
And concur.
Arguably, they did make a few improvements...and completely changed the ending (having completely removed her redemption), in the process.
But, by doing so, they also dumbed it down, as a result of removing all the references to esotericism (Kabballah, Gnosticism); the psychedelic aspect; and character development of the guy running the ritual.
Some changes also took the forms of tweaks.
Like how they made the main character an opiate addict, instead of an alcoholic; and removed the sexually abusively, toxic, nature of the occult dude (who is actually the heroine addict in A Dark Song)- having transferred those qualities into the character of her former boyfriend.
But she's still trying to get her kid back.
The sister still plays a supporting, yet critical, role (albeit, not one central to the plot, like we have here).
And, like someone already mentioned...they even copy the jerky violin music straight from the original soundtrack.
But, while this film is wholly unoriginal...it's just different enough to not be a total write off.
Because, for one, they do improve upon the special effects.
Albeit, with CGI.
The monster has a very Del Toro vibe to it (think, Pan's Labyrinth).
Which, although, it is rendered with CGI (something I would normally hate)...it's actually not done too horribly...and doesn't come off as out of place in the film.
And, they also fashion a more clear introduction (removing the ambiguity from the opening of the original).
With Anna Camp doing a great job in the leading role.
Her torment feels genuine.
So the problem, here, is not that the film is not entertaining.
Because it is definitely entertaining enough to hold your attention.
It's just so hard to overcome how horribly they rip off the other film (which is a low budget feature, no less).
Unless you consider this a remake.
Because the plot is almost entirely the same.
Only, with the disturbing, psychological, torture, she is forced to endure, revamped.
You shouldn't be able to take someone else's original idea, dumb it down, and make a bigger budget, high concept version of it.
Without repercussions, at least.
Though, it's not inherently clear whether they purchased the rights to do so, or not.
Either way, it comes off as bad form (not to mention low class).
Although, by removing the redemptive aspect present in the original...they do make it a somewhat different film.
Transforming it into more of a true horror, as opposed to a psychological thriller.
You can tell they were trying to make it less drawn out, and remove the ambiguity, for more mainstream audiences.
But it's still far too close to the former film for comfort.
Especially if they DO straight up rip it off.
But watch them both, and judge for yourself.
See what you think.
4.5 out of 10.
