All Dark Places

Writer-director Nicholas Reiner's psychological thriller cum terror tale revolves around Christian and Jamie (Joshua Burrow, Stephanie Fieger), a young couple trying to resurrect their failing marriage for the sake of their 6-year-old son, Dylan (Dylan Mars Loff). Unfortunately, Christian's bad business deals and hard-partying ways (he hangs out in the basement with a pal, drinking and drugging and playing loud rock ‘n' roll) make that an unlikely proposition. But that's nothing compared to the clown (Liam Seide, replete with bulbous red nose and whiteface makeup) who lurks in the child's closet, promising to protect Dylan—presumably from his father (the clown also appears next to Christian's bed while he sleeps, threatening to “gut you like a fish,” and other jolly imprecations). Questions abound. Why is all of this happening? Why does the couple's shrink recommend they drop acid to solve their issues? Is the clown real, or merely a manifestation of the family's (especially Christian's) anger and insecurities? All Dark Places is so static, stilted, and tension-free, and the acting so amateurish, that only one question really matters in the end: Who cares? Not recommended. (S. Graham)