MysteryThrillerHorrorCrime

Coming Home in the Dark

- All that evil requires is for good men to do nothing.

A school teacher is forced to confront a brutal act from his past when a pair of ruthless drifters takes him and his family on a nightmare road-trip.

Release Date : 2021-08-12

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Light in the Dark ProductionsHomecoming Productions Ltd.

Production Country : New Zealand

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Mandrake

Original Name : Daniel Gillies

Gender : Male

Character Name : Hoaggie

Original Name : Erik Thomson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Jill

Original Name : Miriama McDowell

Gender : Female

Character Name : Tubs

Original Name : Matthias Luafutu

Gender : Male

Character Name : Jordan

Original Name : Frankie Paratene

Gender : Male

Character Name : Maika

Original Name : Billy Paratene

Gender : Male

Character Name : Paul

Original Name : Alan Palmer

Gender : Male

Character Name : Kynan

Original Name : Bailey Cowan

Gender : Male

Character Name : Josh

Original Name : Timon Zeiss

Gender : Male

Character Name : Caleb

Original Name : Tioti O'Donnell

Gender : Male

Character Name : Jess

Original Name : Kaira O'Donnell

Gender : Male

Character Name : Male Tourist

Original Name : Ike Hamon

Gender : Male

Character Name : Female Tourist

Original Name : Olivia Shanks

Gender : Male

Character Name : Traffic Patrol Officer

Original Name : Desray Armstrong

Gender : Female

Character Name : Ten Year Old Boy

Original Name : Sam Carter

Gender : Male

Reviews

Louisa Moore - Screen Zealots

@screenzealots

2021-06-23

The ruthless crime thriller “Coming Home in the Dark” opens with a brutal sequence of violence that sets the tone for the rest of the film. This is a tough one to watch because director James Ashcroft pulls no punches in showing the evil darkness that lurks within some men, and the tension grows to the point that it is almost unbearable. Hoaggie (Erik Thomson) his wife Jill (Miriama McDowell), and their two teenage sons are enjoying a beautiful day in New Zealand. They’ve taken a road trip to an isolated coastline and after a hike, find a secluded spot with a view to have a restful picnic. They’re interrupted by two menacing drifters (Daniel Gillies, Matthias Luafutu) who demand the keys to the family’s car. The ominous men aren’t satisfied with ending it there, and a disturbing act of violence changes what was supposed to be a pleasant day into a nightmare. The story is simple, but terrifying. Ashcroft is relentless in portraying the horrors that befall this family at the hands of two psychotic killers. Most of the film takes place within the confines of a car, and the plot quite literally involves the family members being driven back home in the dark at the hands of their captors. Gillies gives a spine-chilling performance as a quietly unhinged lunatic, and he’s able to establish so much fear with nothing but a menacing stare. He absolutely sells the role to the maximum effect. This isn’t the most inventive revenge movie, as Ashcroft digs from the “let’s go all-out and make each scene more awful than the one before” arsenal too often. His characters are victims of inaction and when they eventually decide to make a move, they do things that are completely stupid. This in turn makes the film seem a little tawdry and cheap. “Coming Home in the Dark” is filled with an unrelenting brutality that will give your nerves a jolt. It’s not particularly memorable, but it’s good enough to recommend for fans of the genre. If you do decide to take the plunge, buckle in and prepare your emotions for a ride to some of the bleakest places imaginable.