The Seeker

Liberally adapted from Susan Cooper's YA series The Dark Is Rising, director David Cunningham's The Seeker is yet another fantasy-adventure film about a young hero tasked with saving the world from destruction. Will (Alexander Ludwig) appears to be an ordinary American boy living in England with his parents and a small army of siblings. But as he approaches his 14th birthday, Will learns that he's special: as the seventh son of a seventh son, he's the Chosen One, fated to travel through time to seek six “signs” that will restore the power of Light, which is at war with the destructive Darkness. The latter is represented by a masked horseman who steers his black steed across the landscape, recruiting traitors to use against Will and spewing out dark fog that consumes everything in its path. This dualistic tale of the war between Good and Evil works itself out in a series of time-travel episodes in which Will finds the signs and confronts the Rider in a climactic face-off. But there's no cleverness here—Will's not required to figure anything out (he automatically recognizes the signs because of his special powers)—and the film is further hobbled by clumsy transitions, unimpressive special effects, predictable plot twists, and a finale that's a complete jumble. The Seeker clearly wants to capitalize on Harry Potter mania, but simply lacks the magic—in all senses. Not recommended. (F. Swietek)