The film follows Rebecca, a young woman who's currently estranged from her mother and young brother Martin. However, after the gruesome murder of her step-father and the resurgence of her mother's mental illness, Rebecca is beckoned home by the terrified Martin that insists he's being haunted/hunted by a malevolent entity. Reluctant to reintegrate with her family, the scales are tipped when Rebecca discovers the terrifying being that's after Martin.
Since this is a fairly standard spook show, what makes Lights Out generally work, and sometimes not, are its subtle variations within its genre. As such we'll break each of these elements down to see how Light Out stacks up.
The Opening/Core Concept is Amazing
I really like the idea of ghoul that can only exist in the dark. It creates a lot of natural boundaries for the heroes and the villains, is perfectly designed for quality jump scares and tension, and is a relatively new idea (provided you're not an Alan Wake fan). It's also a great idea to play with the primal fear of the dark. For some people turning the right light off at the right time is scary enough but knowing there's something hunting for you as soon as the lights go off is nightmare fuel at its finest. It also leaves lots of room for improvised defense weapons, and those pesky unreliable horror movie flashlights.
The Explanation is Kinda Boring
I should be quick to point out that a full explanation of your ghosts capabilities, purpose, and origins isn't necessary. As many people have pointed out, mysteries and monsters almost alway become less interesting once we know more about them, because nothing is as terrifying as it is in your head. But if you're movie is going to spill the beans you hope that it aims for something a little more original. I won't spoil anything here, but as soon as our heroes start to dig I started to sigh a little bit.
Also, if your movie is going to tell the audience everything about the monster its usually a good idea to make a thematic link to the lead character's struggle. Here the connection seems to be mostly to the mother but she's not our hero, Rebecca is. Not deal breaking but it means the finale lacks the heft you'd hope it might have.
The Heroes Are Clever and Well-Rounded
I really like the four lead characters in this movie. Rebcecca is clearly living an "alternative life" but the movie basically bends over backwards to show her strong sense of morality and obligation, toughness, and intelligence. Her boyfriend is well-intentioned and never falls victim to cowardice. Martin is one of the smartest little kids you'll see in a horror movie who's understandably suspicious of Rebecca and his mother's reliability.
The only role I'm torn about is Maria Bello's turn as the anguished mother. I feel like parts of this movie are too hostile to someone who's clearly a lifelong sufferer of mental illness and imply that it's "weak." On the other hand, she does have an odd connection to the entity and her attachment to it is a source of struggle for her children, which is an empathetic experience for the audience. Maybe just make her possessed next time.
Verdict: Strong Start Stumbles At The End...Still Fun
While Lights Out can't live up to the mastery of its opening sequence, it's still a well-crafted if imperfect horror movie with good performances across the board. Definitely worth a look for genre fans, if only for that opening.
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