Netflix Hidden Gems: Dark Skies

This article is for those (poor souls) who haven’t yet seen the new film on Netflix - Dark Skies (there are no spoilers in this article).

The main premise of Dark Skies is that a family is unable to prove that aliens are invading their home every night. Lacy (Keri Russell) and Daniel Barrett (Josh Hamilton) have to rely on their willpower and bravery to not only understand but also deal with their mysterious threat. If they succumb to this threat, the entire family will have consequences.

What is Dark Skies like?

This film is more of a slow burn suspense film rather than a late-night fright flick. Do you remember that feeling of excitement or existential curiosity you got when observing images of stars, planets, and constellations inside a planetarium? If you do, imagine you’re sitting inside a planetarium except now you’re being stalked by creatures and entities that you can’t even see. That’s what it was like for me when watching this film.

That weird feeling I just described tends to come up a lot when watching cosmic horror films. With these films, the goal is to create a feeling of unease based on the fact that we are not alone in the universe or that our existence is insignificant.

In The Tall Grass - Patrick Wilson, Harrison Gilbertson, Laysla De Oliveira, Avery Whitted - Photo Credit: Netflix

However, creating this anxiety is difficult since the main tools for doing this are creepy music and images of darkness. My guess is that Dark Skies would have been more terrifying had it been written as a novel instead.

Is this Netflix film for you?

I’d say if you're new to horror or seen Knowing or Signs – this movie might be on your level. But if you’re expecting The Conjuring or Alien, then you should probably find something else to watch.

The plot includes a decent amount of family drama, likely used for creating buildup. However, the drama isn’t too boring or detracting from the story, if that’s a concern. Like many horror movies, I wouldn’t say the film’s plot is notable or exceptional. Watch the film to experience the visuals, suspense, and mystery, rather than for a memorable plot.

Overall, if you like drama and suspense, this is a movie for you. If you had a long and unhealthy obsession with the Area 51 raid like I did, this is also a movie for you. But seriously, if you like dark skies – no pun intended - and extraterrestrials, then I’d say give this film a shot.