Synopsis:
The spirit of a murdered girl returns with a message. Now a stranded woman must team up with the staff of a local radio station to solve the mystery of her death.
Laurie (Siwan Morris) and her producer Ben (Gareth David-Lloyd) are getting ready to deliver their last show for a soon to be closing down radio station and in a last ditch effort to go out with a bang invite a psychic on the air. Meanwhile, Kate (Joanna Ignaczewska) a single mother of one has been left stranded in the middle of a dark wood by her boyfriend. As Kate discovers she’s not alone in the woods, Ben and Laurie also begin to experience strange phenomena when they receive a message from the grave.
Offering audiences plenty of well executed scares, Dark Signal is a complex and incredibly unnerving thriller that takes pride in keeping its audience on the edge of their seat. Sitting comfortably in the directors chair, Evers-Swindell works hard to build a sense of dread in his audience playing his cards close to his chest at all times. Although this is at time frustrating and is let down by predictable jump scares and dodgy CGI, Evers-Swindell delivers a thoroughly satisfying climax that will take some audience members by surprise.
The performances are equally sound. In the studio Morris and David-Lloyd deliver performances that operate with the right amount of intensity that makes some of the more silly moments wholly believable. However, Ignaczewska’s performance as Kate really knocks it out of the park. She makes it easy for audiences to connect with her. It is a real treat to see her performance change through the course of the film as she brings great versatility to the role. Together they really bring the film to life and I was thankful for it.
Overall, I was impressed with what Dark Signal has to offer. Yes it stumbles along the way and at times feels more reserved than it should be but it’s slow pace provides the perfect foundation for a sense discomfort to grow. The strong performances elevates the film and it is through the careful nurture by Evers-Swindell that Dark Signal gets a much needed boost. This is not a film to be seen if you are an impatient viewer but if you like your indie horror subtle and nicely crafted then this is the one for you.
Words: Jon Dickinson (@marvelguy)
