Dark Chronicles is a well-put-together anthology that is definitely worth a watch for those who love classics such as "After Midnight," "Tales from the Dark Side," and "From a Whisper to a Scream." Dark Chronicles features 4 gripping tales that run the gamut from perilous paranormal plots, to disturbing dystopian futures, and even to intense psychological thrillers. The frame story, featuring our incredibly earnest and emotive host, The Keeper, creates a somber atmosphere and does an excellent job of cleansing the palette before moving the tales along. A high production value remains consistent throughout the entirety of the film, creating a very enjoyable experience.
And here's why it works:
Dark Chronicles has two strong components that really amplify its effect and help it work the way it does.
The first component is the frame story.
But first, an aside. Feel free to skip past this if you'd like.
There has been a recent upsurge of horror anthologies, and that's not a bad thing in my book. The issue with many of these spurious entries is that they tend to create slipshod compilations of preexisting works - the kind that most likely ever only saw the light of day at a film festival - that share neither a common theme nor a consistent production value. And so the entire experience feels disjointed and ultimately dissatisfying.
Looking backwards, the frame story is what breathed life into Hammer's and Amicus' beloved anthologies. It was the sonorous pulse that meticulously crafted stories beat their drums to. It doesn't matter exactly what it is - Shevenge has a unique approach to the frame story that, for the most part, falls flat, but it serves its purpose - but the frame story must be both coherent and compelling. The frame story is the prologue, the epilogue, and, most importantly, the intermission - strike the set, we're moving into the next act. It serves as a palette cleanser so that we can fully appreciate all of the flavors of any particular work within the whole of the anthology, and can really make or break an anthology. A prime example of it making: Peter Cushing in "Dr. Terror's House of Horrors." A prime example of it breaking: Karl Landler in "A Night of Horror: Nightmare Radio."
Onward to the review!
Dark Chronicles has a very engaging frame story. Though the scripting is slightly weak at times - the word choices sometimes break the flow of the scene - the character of the Keeper is unique, a bit quirky, and entirely likable. With hIs subtle, yet vibrant shifts in expression he does a good job of setting the tone for the upcoming vignette whilst also cleansing our palettes of the flavors from the last one. This diminishes burnout and disinterest, while also helping each short feel both unique to itself and capable as part of a larger whole - a strong link in the chain, so to speak.
The second component working for Dark Chronicles is that the production value is not only well above amateur, it is also consistent across the board. The story-telling is high-tier, propped up by largely convincing performances, dynamic scripting, and felicitous practical effects. The lighting and camerawork combine for an overall pristine 90's straight-to-TV image. Finally, the sound design is top notch, generating soundscapes that properly instill an appropriate sense of mystery and foreboding. Even if you don't particularly enjoy a certain story, the production value is of a high enough caliber to where it doesn't feel like you're suffering through it - it can still remain entertaining on some level.
We are treated to 4 tales.
Below are brief Plot Summaries:
Possession:
Tensions rise between a priest and his ward when she starts exhibiting some very demoniacal behavior. He believes that she's possessed. She believes she's merely ill.
Relic:
To psych themselves up for an upcoming fear festival, three friends decide to pay a visit to an antique shop that hosts tours of the many mystical items in its possession. During the tour, they unwittingly invoke and provoke an ancient evil.
What Hides Within:
In a post-apocalyptic dystopian future where humans are almost extinct while the undead dominate the landscape, one family struggles to survive.
The Conductor:
Two strangers walk into a bar, each with their own mired past and hidden agenda.
