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DON’T TURN OUT THE LIGHTS (2023)
3 stars
101 Films. Digital. Out Now
Carrie (Bella DeLong) and Gaby (Ana Zambrana) are excited to see each other – they are in a park waiting for birthday girl Olivia (Crystal Lake Evans) to turn up, which she eventually does complete with “It’s My Birthday” sash. Also there is Chris (Daryl Tofa-Soriana) and rich girl Sarah (Amber Janea) – her and Carrie have some kind of history., which is about as far as it goes in terms of character development in director Andy Fickman’s clichéd script.
To celebrate they have passes for the Blue Light music festival – a weekend of ‘sex, drugs and rock’n’roll’, and it’s only a ten hour drive away. Luckily Olivia’s boyfriend Michael (Jarrett Austin Brown) turns up with an RV to take them there – tagging along for the ride is Michael’s roommate Jason (John Bucy), a straightlaced former Marine.
Much alcohol is consumed on the way and they don’t seem to be annoying at all (I might be lying).
Their troubles start when they stop for supplies at a gas station. Gaby and Sarah are harassed by a couple of racist rednecks – Jason to the rescue as he beats them up, which not have been the best idea as, once back on the road, they are pursued by the two guys in their large truck. They manage to escape but find themselves off their chosen route and are soon lost!
To continue their trek they have to follow a paper printed map (remember those), as there is no phone service (shocker), and they get short shrift when they ask for directions at a bar. Then the RV hits something in the dark and the engine won’t turn over. So they are stuck in the middle of nowhere with no means to call for help.
They continue to be loud, but not so noisy that they can’t hear the sounds emanating from the surrounding forest. It isn’t long before they are acting like most idiotic characters in this type of horror and going to see what is happening… alone. Because that’s the sensible thing to do.
Soon both Michael and Jason have disappeared into the darkness. Chris is passed out and Olivia is in shock. The three remaining girls Carrie, Sarah and Gaby are left trying to figure out what is happening, whilst coming up with wild theories… when they are not screeching at each other.
Nothing really new to see here. Attempts at jump scares that don’t work, fairly obnoxious characters that you don’t care about and to cap it off a very noisy unseen threat which is never explained in any way, so you end up not caring about the people who are being targeted and never find out what is going on in between the constant yapping.
Aka: Blue Light
Steve Kirkham
