Darkness (DVD, 2005, Unrated Version)

Talented Spanish filmmaker Jaume Balaguero's film DARKNESS is a terrifying tale in which an ordinary American family moves to a large, creaky Victorian home in the Spanish countryside that, unbeknownst to them, was the scene of some awful experiments on the night of a total eclipse 40 years before. Teenage daughter Regina (Anna Paquin) decides to investigate after unexplained bruises show up on her younger brother (Stephen Enquist), and her father (Iain Glen) displays oddly enraged and erratic behavior. Although her mother (Lena Olin) and her grandfather (Giancarlo Giannini) refuse to believe her, Regina is convinced that something within their new home is the cause of the trouble. As another eclipse looms, Regina enlists the help of her new boyfriend (Fele Martinez) and uncovers truths that could literally destroy her family.Balaguero mixes tried and true cinematic scare devices with his own brand of macabre originality to bring a well-paced, ominous atmosphere to the supernatural ghost story genre. He drains the film of colorful hues and bright light, and effectively uses sound to paralyze and terrorize his viewers. Having thoroughly scared the daylights out of European audiences, DARKNESS is sure to do the same stateside.