Dark, Almost Night

Dark, Almost Night is a thrilling and mysterious 2019 Polish film directed by Borys Lankosz. The film is based on the internationally acclaimed Joanna Bator’s novel "Ciemno, Prawie Noc". Produced by Studio Filmowe Kadr, the film showcases breathtaking visuals adding to the atmospheric feel alongside a genre-defying narrative that combines elements of noir, family drama, political thriller, and horror. It features a remarkable cast comprising Magdalena Cielecka, Rafal Mackowiak, Modest Rucinski, and many more.

The film presents its audience with an enigmatic central character, Alicja Tabor. Magdalena Cielecka delivers a stellar performance as Alicja, a seasoned and hardnosed Warsaw-based journalist. Alicja, scarred by personal trauma, returns to her hometown in Swiebodzin, Poland after many years when a sudden string of as yet unexplained disappearances of children occurs, sending shockwaves through the quiet, seemingly idyllic local community.

On returning, Alicja, known for her determined investigative reporting, embarks upon an intricately woven case filled with cascades of misleading clues and a mosaic of buried secrets that shroud the town. But this is not merely a dark return to her roots for the sake of an investigation. The trip also sees her grapple with her childhood memories in an attempt to find closure on a personal note regarding her traumatic past and the estranged family she left behind.

Characterized by a chilling atmospheric tension, the director uses Alicja's journey into the past as a vehicle for a sociopolitical commentary on Poland's tumultuous historical reality. By doing so, Lankosz paints a disturbing picture of a painful past which continues to shape the present. This offers a unique narrative as it employs an investigative thriller that mirrors the nation’s struggles with past indiscretions.

Throughout the film, we marvel at the impressive cinematic visuals delivered by cinematographer Pawel Flis, contributing to the overall eerie and ominous atmosphere of the story. The overcast skies, the bare branches of the trees, and the shadowy nature of the town all combine to contribute to the film's suspenseful environment.

Cielecka's Alicja is the beating heart of the production. Her portrayal of the strong-willed journalist, caught amidst mysteries both past and present, is full of intrigue and pathos. She delivers an exceptional performance that keeps the audience glued to their screens, exuding fear, uncertainty, and determination in equal measure.

Rafal Mackowiak plays a critical role as Bogdan, the uneasy local police chief wrestling with the alarming situation in the town, and Modest Rucinski plays an intelligent psychologist who is Alicja's ally in her pursuit of the truth. Each role undisclosed to its real nature contributes to the overall suspense. The entirety of the cast provides a commendable performance, building tension throughout the film that bursts at the culmination of the story.

The soundtrack of the film, composed by Antoni Komasa-Łazarkiewicz, complemented the ominous tones and the tense atmosphere of the movies to perfection, emphasizing the darkest and undercurrent narratives.

Dark, Almost Night climaxes in a suspenseful manner that shocks but also concludes the story in a gratifying way, revealing terrible secrets and solidifying the grim reality.

In essence, Dark, Almost Night is a masterful blend of mystery, political commentary, and sinister drama. The film delves into the darker aspects of humanity with a brave conviction that shines through the storytelling. It cleverly weaves close-knit community secrets, political discord, religious fanaticism, and personal tragedy into a captivating patchwork of intrigue and suspense, marked by nerve-wracking tension and socio-political relevance.

While Dark, Almost Night is indeed a gripping thriller, it is also much more. It is a study of the lingering impacts of historical trauma and the disturbing consequences of suppressed secrets. It's a journey into the heart of darkness, a town, and its people, where the past lays heavy layers of shadows on the present, revealing that in the right atmospheric conditions, the natural and the supernatural can sometimes inhabit the same space. A must-watch for fans of intelligent, atmospheric, and complex thrillers.