Now available on digital and VOD is the drama (horror?) movie, Darkness in Tenement 45.
The film stars Nicole Tompkins, David Labiosa, Melissa Mecedo, Casey Kramer and Anthony Marciona, to name a few.
I am not sure how to truly classify this film. Some might say it’s a drama, others might think of it more so as a horror movie. Maybe even Sci-fi would fit? Thriller?
Here is a brief synopsis of the film.
Darkness in Tenement 45, set in the 1950s, follows the residents of a NYC tenement building trapped inside in response to the threat of a biological attack during the Cold War. With supplies dwindling, paranoia sets in, leaving a troubled teenager in a desperate fight for survival against the self-appointed, deranged leader to save what remains of her makeshift family.
Joanna has been living with her overbearing Aunt Martha, in a low-income NYC tenement building ever since a violent outburst left her fighting a force that she can only describe as the “darkness.” Little did she know that weeks after moving in, a biological threat from the Soviet Union would leave the building boarded up and the tenants locked inside. With food dwindling and Martha’s controversial role as leader expanding, Joanna rallies the children in an attempt to save the building. Tensions come to a violent head when Martha delves into Joanna’s past and Joanna struggles to keep the darkness from overtaking her entirely.
This film started out rather slow, to that point that my husband opted to check out his phone instead of watch the film. As for myself, I stuck with it.
As time goes on, the film gets more an more interesting. Even my husband started to watch it again.
I think this film is very fitting due to current events in the world.
I can still remember being on “lock down” when the COVID virus first started spreading. I was furloughed from my job, and never left our home. Only my husband and son would leave (both are essential workers). My daughter was home with me for a few weeks before she returned to work too (she’s also an essential worker).
Our supplies never got as low at they do in the film, but that was a worry of mine. What if we ran out of this or that? How would we survive. Thankfully it never got to that point. I dread the day something like what happens in the film transpires. Hopefully it’s long after our lifetime.
I don’t often comment on a film’s set, but in this case I will. I think the film makers did a wonderful job with the set for this film. It really adds to the feel of the film. The apartment building and apartments look worn, bleak and in despair… similar to how the residents feel. Their home is a reflection on how they are feeling during this difficult time, and vice versa.
I liked not knowing what was outside the doors. It was great to imagine what each tenant would be exposed to, and what would happen to them, if they stepped out the front door. I think a lot of people would relate to that. Every time you walk out the door… will you be exposed to COVID or another potentially lethal virus?
I enjoyed the dilemma in this film. Do you leave the apartment building and face the unknown in order to help others survive, or do you stay inside and make due any way you can, even if it means having to eat bugs and mice? That is a tough call.
I think the acting was pretty good. They were all convincing in their roles, especially Nicole Tompkins (Joanna).
When it comes to watching movies, I can pretty much figure out how it will end within the first half of the film. I have to say that this film was hard to figure out. I had my suspicions as to what was going to happen at the end of hte film, but I was wrong with my hypothesis. This film was not easy to figure out.
Over all I think it was a pretty good film. It’s a bit peculiar, but none the less, it’s entertaining.
I found the film on Facebook. The film is also on Twitter. I’m not sure about other social media accounts.
Below is the film’s trailer for your enjoyment.
Kimberly
*I received a free screener in order to do this review. There was no compensation. The opinions expressed are my own and not influenced in any way.