Starring April Pearson and Lynne Anne Rodgers, DARK BEACON is a mystery drama that beckons the supernatural in a subtle but distinctive way. When Amy (Pearson) finds her absent friend, Beth (Rodgers) who mysteriously disappeared without warning, taking only her young daughter Maya (Kendra Mei), her inquisition drives her to find out why she vanished without reason and how she and her daughter are living a life of loneliness. As the investigation unfolds, a story of betrayal, heartbreak and guilt soon unfolds culminating in a shocking climax that will leave the pair fighting for their lives.

 

DARK BEACON is both harrowing and melancholy and feeds the audience with a sense of dread with little effort. Its roots are grounded firmly in reality with a human story of love and betrayal. The core pull for both central characters and their own demons makes the climax all that more difficult to watch unfold. With the beautifully shot exteriors, the limited budget of DARK BEACON is well managed and masterfully hidden with great use of the natural lighting of the films surroundings. The lighthouse at the centre of it all feels all that more haunting because of the isolation and beauty yet with the sense of dread and disaster from the idyllic locale set amongst the crashing waves.

 

Director Corrie Greenop’s second feature is a much more understated piece than DEVIL BABY and works all the better for it. At its core, this is a love story and one with so many complications it’s difficult to put into a review without adding spoilers but the chemistry between the cast is mesmerising. Similar to last years UNDER THE SHADOW and similar world language drama lead horrors, this is gripping from start to end with a well written script and blend of supernatural horror that only drives the characters to human actions.

 

It’s with the films grounded nature that the horror is dressed up in the emotions of the stories characters that keeps the films narrative so entrancing. Witnessing the events unfold with the slow build up pay off really well for a gut wrenching finale and a film that will linger on long after the credits roll.

Director: Coz Greenop

Released:  2018

Running Time: 75 minutes

Age Rating: TBC

 

Reviewer: Martyn Wakefield

RATING



Plot: 4

Fear: 2

Gore: 1



R4/5​