Ruqayyah Snyder
Lights Out is a 2016 horror movie directed by David F. Sandberg, based on his short film of the same name. The film stars Teresa Palmer, Gabriel Bateman, Maria Bello, and Alexander John DiPersia. It centres on a woman who must protect her young stepbrother from a spirit that only kills its victims in the dark. The film received mixed reviews, with some praising its acting, atmosphere, and scary moments, while others found it underwhelming and forgettable. Lights Out is available to stream in Australia on various platforms, including YouTube, Google TV, and Apple TV Store.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Genre | Horror |
| Rating | PG-13 |
| Plot | A woman must protect her young stepbrother from a spirit that kills its victims in the dark |
| Director | David F. Sandberg |
| Writers | Eric Heisserer, David F. Sandberg |
| Stars | Teresa Palmer, Gabriel Bateman, Alexander John DiPersia, Billy Burke, Maria Bello, Alicia Vela-Bailey, Andi Osho, Rolando Boyce |
| Streaming Platforms | YouTube, Google TV, Apple TV Store, Foxtel, Binge, Prime Video Store |
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What You'll Learn
Plot
Lights Out is a 2016 American supernatural horror film directed by David F. Sandberg and written by Eric Heisserer. The film is based on Sandberg's 2013 short film of the same name.
The plot of Lights Out centres around a supernatural entity that torments a family. Rebecca (Teresa Palmer) left home thinking that her childhood fears were behind her. However, her little brother Martin (Gabriel Bateman) starts experiencing the same terrifying events, which are linked to a mysterious attachment to their mother, Sophie (Maria Bello). Rebecca and Martin discover that the entity was once a woman named Diana, who had a traumatic childhood and a chronic sensitivity to light. Diana was a patient at a mental hospital where she befriended Sophie as a child. Diana is believed to have had an influence on people's minds, which led to her father's suicide. She was accidentally reduced to ashes during an experimental treatment under intense light.
As the film progresses, the family must find a way to defeat the monster that only appears in the dark. The plot involves strong horror violence, including murder, death, bloody wounds, and jump scares. The film received praise for its direction, screenplay, performances, cinematography, and score, with particular mention given to the strong performances of Palmer and Bello.
The film has been described as having a clear and cohesive story, with unexpected surprises and well-drawn characters. It explores complex topics such as mental health, abandonment, and suicide.
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Cast
The cast of Lights Out (2016) includes:
- Teresa Palmer as Rebecca, the woman who must protect her young half-brother, Martin, from a spirit that kills its victims in the dark.
- Gabriel Bateman as Martin, Rebecca's young half-brother who is terrorized by a creature that only appears in the dark.
- Alexander DiPersia as Bret, Rebecca's kind and patient boyfriend who helps her confront the spirit.
- Billy Burke as Rebecca and Martin's father, who is concerned about the well-being of his sick wife, Sophie.
- Maria Bello as Sophie, Rebecca and Martin's mother who has a mysterious attachment to a supernatural entity.
- Alicia Vela-Bailey as Diana, the main antagonist and a spirit from the family's past who kills her victims in the dark.
The film is directed by David F. Sandberg and written by Eric Heisserer, based on Sandberg's 2013 short film of the same name.
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Jump scares
Lights Out (2016) is a horror film directed by David F. Sandberg, based on his short film of the same name. The film centres on a family terrorised by a shadow creature named Diana, who is burned by light and forced to move in the shadows. The film's signature scare involves characters turning the lights off and seeing the monster, then turning them back on to find that it has disappeared.
The film has been praised for its well-executed jump scares, with one review noting that it has a jump scare rating of 4.5 out of 5. The majority of the scares occur in the second half of the film, with 2-3 major ones in the first half. One review highlights the opening scene as a particularly effective jump scare, where a character turns the lights on and off several times, seeing the silhouette of a woman in the darkness each time, only for her to suddenly appear much closer.
Another notable jump scare occurs towards the end of the film, when Rebecca shines a black light on a figure with its back turned to her, and it suddenly turns around and screams. The film also makes clever use of sound and lighting to create a tense and eerie atmosphere, enhancing the impact of the jump scares.
While some viewers found the film scary and engaging, other reviews suggest that it relies too heavily on jump scares, with one critic noting that the film falls flat due to its focus on commercialised scare tactics. However, overall, Lights Out has been well-received as a fun and effective horror film, with a good blend of scares and family drama.
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Cinematography
The cinematography in Lights Out has received praise from critics, with one review noting that the film features "some terrific performances" and "superior chills without skimping on story". The film's cinematographer, Marc Spicer, is credited with creating "spiffy scare effects" and "wonders with underlighting".
The film's premise is based on the idea that monsters only come out in the dark, and as a result, the cinematography plays a crucial role in building suspense and creating scares. By manipulating lighting and shadow, Spicer is able to control when the monster is visible, heightening the sense of danger and uncertainty. This is particularly effective in scenes where characters are searching for a light source or struggling to stay in the light, such as when they are trapped in a basement or a neighbourhood power outage occurs.
However, some reviews have criticised the film's cinematography and camerawork as unremarkable, comparing it unfavourably to other horror films such as The Conjuring 2. The film has also been criticised for its heavy reliance on traditional horror movie clichés and an over-complicated backstory for the monster, which may have detracted from the overall impact of the cinematography.
Despite this, Lights Out is generally considered to be a well-crafted horror film that effectively utilises lighting and cinematography to create a suspenseful and scary experience for the audience.
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Streaming platforms
In Australia, the horror film "Lights Out" is available on Netflix. This is a convenient option for viewers in Australia and New Zealand, as the movie is not available on Netflix in other countries. To watch the movie in countries where it is geo-restricted, a VPN can be used.
In addition to Netflix, "Lights Out" can also be streamed on Apple TV Plus in Australia. The movie can also be purchased or rented on Amazon Video, Fandango At Home, and the Microsoft Store.
It is worth noting that using a VPN to bypass regional restrictions may violate Netflix's terms of service. Potential risks include having one's Netflix account suspended or terminated if the platform detects VPN usage.
Overall, while "Lights Out" is available on Netflix in Australia, viewers in other countries may need to explore alternative streaming platforms or VPN options to access the movie.
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Frequently asked questions
Lights Out is a horror movie about a ghost/monster that only appears in darkness to kill its victims. The plot revolves around a woman who must protect her young stepbrother from this spirit, which is connected to their mother and has a history of tormenting the family.
In Australia, Lights Out (2016) has been rated as PG-13.
Lights Out (2016) is available for streaming on YouTube, Google TV, Apple TV Store, Foxtel, Binge, and Prime Video Store in Australia.
Reviews for Lights Out are mixed. Some critics praise the film for its effective jump scares, strong performances, and respectful treatment of its audience. Others find it predictable, with forgettable characters and an underwhelming storyline.
