Charlize Theron brings Gillian Flynn’s gritty Dark Places to life
By Marriska Fernandes on November 4, 2015 | 42 Comments
Gillian Flynn, author of the successful Gone Girl, whips up another plot-heavy thriller, Dark Places, which keeps you guessing about everyone’s motives.
Libby Day (Charlize Theron) is one of two survivors of a murder massacre involving her mother and sisters. The other survivor is her brother Ben (Corey Stroll), who is arrested for the murders based on eight-year-old Libby’s shaky testimony.
Almost three decades later, Ben is in prison on death row and Libby feels just as much a prisoner as Ben. She hides behind her baseball cap, carrying the demons of her childhood with her. She makes a living feeding off people’s obsession with the Day murders – and she milks this cash cow well into her 30s. The royalties from her book titled A Brand New Day and generous contributions from strangers pay the bills.
When she finally has no cash to pay her rent, she agrees to work with Lyle Worth (Nicholas Hoult), who is trying to solve the Day murders just like the other Kill Club members. Yup, that’s the club obsessed with unsolved or incorrectly solved murders. As the movie tosses between the present and the past, viewers try to solve the mystery as each new character presents a new piece to the puzzle.
We see young Ben, who was involved with smoking pot and worshiping Satan. He was in a relationship with Diondra (Chloë Grace Moretz), a rich kid acting out with Satanic activities. We are also introduced to Ben’s deadbeat dad, who shows little to no interest in his kids’ lives. As the plot thickens and secrets are revealed, Libby starts to, for the first time, question her brother’s innocence and she takes a guilty trip down memory lane.
Dark Places is layered with the breadcrumbs of a mind-boggling puzzle – Gillian Flynn’s signature style as seen in Gone Girl. Although Dark Places isn’t as brilliant a film as Gone Girl, it’s a gritty thriller none the less.
Charlize Theron makes a strong case as she unwraps Libby’s rollercoaster of emotions, including guilt, anger and sense of loss. Director Gilles Paquet-Brenner serves a relishing thriller for movie lovers. It’s raw and edgy with cults, an unsolved murder massacre and a Kill Club (a deserving title?!). In my opinion, it’s worth a watch.
~Marriska Fernandes
We are giving four lucky winners a chance to bite into this dark thriller with a Dark Places DVD, of course! Simply leave a comment below to tell us your favorite movie thriller adaptation.
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Gone Girl
Me too! Gone Girl. It was brilliant!
To Kill A Mockingbird
It is now Gone Girl. Intriguing movie.
I loved Gone Girl.
Gone Girl was brilliant.
I loved Gone Girl! We read it in our book club and then a few months later the movie came out! Thanks for the chance. 😊
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
Gone girl
Gone Girl!!!
Gone girl
I would have to say Gone Girl, that one threw me for a loop…I even had to watch it twice to make sure I didnt miss anything!
It would be great to win a DVD copy of Dark Places.
My favorite movie thriller adaptation is The Silence of the Lambs.
Thank you for having this giveaway.
1975 One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest with Jack Nicholson! Classis film!!! Thank you for the chance!!
The Godfather
Silence of the Lambs… Gone Girl is great as well. Thanks
I thought Girl with the Dragon Tattoo was terrific and Rooney Mara’s performance as Lisbeth Salander was nothing short of brilliant.
I would love to win a DVD copy of Dark Places.
My favorite movie thriller adaptation is To Kill A Mockingbird.
Thank you for having this giveaway.
I really enjoyed Gone Girl. The Dragon Tatoo series was great too.
i enjoyed Gone Girl. Dark Places was a great book so I am looking forward to seeing the movie
It would be great to win a DVD copy of Dark Places.
My favorite movie thriller adaptation is The Silence of the Lambs.
Thank you for having this giveaway.
Love the Halloween (Michael Myers) Theme Song. Gives me chills every time I hear it.
This DVD sounds so good! My favorite movie thriller adaptation is Abandon.
I really liked Gone Girl.
Psycho 1960, is my favourite dark thriller adaption.
The Road is my favorite movie thriller adaptation. Thanks
harry potter
The Sting
Spy Game
The Conversation
Marathon Man
Gone Girl
Gone girl!
Psycho …….terrified me!
Misery is one of my favourites but I also thought Gone Girl was brilliant
Next
The Silence Of The Lambs
Gone girl!
Gone girl of course
Harry Potter
Gone Girl
Gone Girl
Harry Potter movies