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ERA
Did you know
Released 12 years ago.
MoodPlayr · trivia#01
Dark Was the Night
"Evil's Roots Run Deep"
2014 1h 37m EN
😐
5.6
MID
★5.6TMDB · 292
HorrorThriller
Synopsis
Spoiler shield
An evil is unleashed in a small town when a logging company sets up shop in the neighboring woods. Isolated and threatened, a mysterious force hidden within the trees outside the small town of Maiden Woods, strikes fear in the townspeople as Sheriff Paul Shields attempts to overcome the demons of his past while protecting those that he loves.
“Evil's Roots Run Deep”
Cast
Kevin Durand
Paul Shields
Lukas Haas
Donny Saunders
Bianca Kajlich
Susan Shields
Ethan Khusidman
Adam Shields
Nick Damici
Earl
Sabina Gadecki
Clair
Heath Freeman
Jim
Steve Agee
Foreman
Credits
Behind the camera
- Director
- Jack Heller
- Writers
- Tyler Hisel
- Languages
- English
- Countries
- United States of America
Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.
Did you know?
Fun facts 🍿
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DIRECTOR
Did you know
Directed by Jack Heller, shot by Ryan Samul. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
MoodPlayr · trivia#02
3 / 6
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Editor Paul Covington shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
MoodPlayr · trivia#03
4 / 6
CAST
Did you know
Kevin Durand and Lukas Haas and Bianca Kajlich carry the top of the cast.
MoodPlayr · trivia#04
5 / 6
FACT
Did you know
Marketing tagline: "Evil's Roots Run Deep".
MoodPlayr · trivia#05
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WILD
Did you know
IMDB entry: tt2251281 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
MoodPlayr · trivia#06
Cinephile deep dive
The take
Jack Heller directs. Ryan Samul behind the camera. Paul Covington cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.
Trivia
Things worth knowing
- 1Released 12 years ago.
- 2Directed by Jack Heller, shot by Ryan Samul. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
- 3Editor Paul Covington shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
- 4Kevin Durand and Lukas Haas and Bianca Kajlich carry the top of the cast.
- 5Marketing tagline: "Evil's Roots Run Deep".
- 6IMDB entry: tt2251281 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
The technical file
- Cinematography
- Ryan Samul
- Editing
- Paul Covington
- Production design
- John El Manahi
- Costume design
- Haley Lieberman
- Makeup / hair
- Brian Spears
- VFX supervisor
- Ted Markovic
- Runtime
- 97 min · 1h 37m
- Aspect ratio (typical)
- 1.37:1 (Academy)
- Status
- Released
- Original language
- EN
Also by
Jack Heller
Stills · wallpapers
Selected frames
Full-resolution frames — open one to save it as a wallpaper.
Trailers & featurettes
Watch the pieces
Community reviews
What people are saying
- Wuchak★ 6/10
The Devil’s Footprints phenomenon rears its head in a wintery town in New York A grieving sheriff & his deputy (Kevin Durand and Lukas Haas) investigate mysterious happenings as animals go missing and people start dying. Is it some kind of unknown predatory animal, a spirit-beast linked to American Indian lore, or something else? “Dark Was the Night” (2014) is mystery/horror of the monster-in-the-woods variety, but not the cabin-in-the-woods kind. Like the more recent “The Hunting” (2021), there’s a reverent ambiance to the slow-burn proceedings along the lines of “The Mothman Prophecies” (2002) and “Wendigo” (2001). It’s grim and deadly serious so don’t expect the zippy black amusement of, say, "The Wolf of Snow Hollow" (2020). While the milieu of all of these movies is similar, it’s the protagonists and the nature of the threat that varies. The creators wisely only show quick glimpses of the threat and wait till the climax for the big reveal, which unfortunately is a CGI letdown. Meanwhile the parting shot is eye-rolling. Yet, up to that point this is moody creature mystery with nice suspense and horrific bits. Another issue I can’t neglect to mention is that there isn’t enough focus on the female cast (not talkin’ ’bout nudity or sleaze). In other words, the story’s just too male-oriented. It needed a more prominent female character to stir interest or shake things up. The aforementioned “The Hunting” is a good example of what I’m talking about. The film runs 1 hour, 39 minutes, and was shot in Southampton, New York, which is at the southeastern tip of Long Island. GRADE: B-
Production companies
Who made it
- MA
Maiden Woods Films
- CA
Caliber Media Company
- FO
Foggy Bottom Pictures
- PR
Preferred Content
US
Sundial Pictures
US
- TH
The Molecule
- FI
First Take Films
Key crew
- ProducerLizz Morhaim
- Co-ProducerLizz Morhaim
- EditorPaul Covington
- EditorTimothy Donovan
- EditorToby Yates
- CastingJames Calleri
- Production DesignJohn El Manahi
- Production DesignAdam Giambattista
- Art DirectionEvan Seide
- Costume DesignHaley Lieberman
- Makeup ArtistBrian Spears
- Special Effects Makeup ArtistBrian Spears
- Production ManagerLizz Morhaim
- SculptorAdam Dougherty
- Additional EditingJack Heller
- EditorJack Heller
- Art DirectionErnesto Sutton
- Visual Effects SupervisorTed Markovic
- Visual EffectsThomas Furukawa
- ProducerJoey Carey
- ProducerDylan K. Narang
- ProducerStefan Nowicki
- ProducerDallas Sonnier
- ProducerMorgan White
Themes & keywords
What it's about, really
- post-traumatic stress disorder (ptsd)
- loss of loved one
- animal death
- creature feature
- marital separation
- wendigo
Release history · US
When it landed
- Theatrical2014-10-17
Also known as
International titles
- Monster HunterGB
- The TreesUS
- Ночь была темнаRU
