Coming Home in the Dark

"All that evil requires is for good men to do nothing."

2021 1h 33m EN

😐

5.7

MID

★5.7TMDB · 234

CrimeHorrorThriller

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

A school teacher is forced to confront a brutal act from his past when a pair of ruthless drifters takes him and his family on a nightmare road-trip.

“All that evil requires is for good men to do nothing.”

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Cast

Daniel Gillies
Mandrake
Erik Thomson
Hoaggie
Miriama McDowell
Jill
Matthias Luafutu
Tubs
Frankie Paratene
Jordan
Billy Paratene
Maika
Alan Palmer
Paul
Bailey Cowan
Kynan

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: James Ashcroft
Writers: Owen Marshall, James Ashcroft, Eli Kent
Languages: English
Countries: New Zealand

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 🍿

1 / 7

ERA

Did you know

Released 5 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by James Ashcroft, shot by Matt Henley. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by John Gibson. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Annie Collins shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 7

CAST

Did you know

Daniel Gillies and Erik Thomson and Miriama McDowell carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 7

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "All that evil requires is for good men to do nothing.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 7

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt6874762 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

Cinephile deep dive

The take

James Ashcroft directs. Matt Henley behind the camera. John Gibson scores. Annie Collins cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in New Zealand. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Released 5 years ago.
2Directed by James Ashcroft, shot by Matt Henley. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
3Original score by John Gibson. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
4Editor Annie Collins shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
5Daniel Gillies and Erik Thomson and Miriama McDowell carry the top of the cast.
6Marketing tagline: "All that evil requires is for good men to do nothing.".
7IMDB entry: tt6874762 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Classified under 12 themes, including "gas station", "hostage", "orphanage", "married couple".

The technical file

Cinematography: Matt Henley
Original score: John Gibson
Editing: Annie Collins
Production design: Philip Gibson
Costume design: Gabrielle Stevenson
Makeup / hair: Michele Perry
Sound: Tim Chaproniere
Runtime: 93 min · 1h 33m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Original language: EN
IMDB: Coming Home in the Dark (2021)

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James Ashcroft

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What people are saying

Louisa Moore - Screen Zealots2021-03-09
★ 6/10
The ruthless crime thriller “Coming Home in the Dark” opens with a brutal sequence of violence that sets the tone for the rest of the film. This is a tough one to watch because director James Ashcroft pulls no punches in showing the evil darkness that lurks within some men, and the tension grows to the point that it is almost unbearable. Hoaggie (Erik Thomson) his wife Jill (Miriama McDowell), and their two teenage sons are enjoying a beautiful day in New Zealand. They’ve taken a road trip to an isolated coastline and after a hike, find a secluded spot with a view to have a restful picnic. They’re interrupted by two menacing drifters (Daniel Gillies, Matthias Luafutu) who demand the keys to the family’s car. The ominous men aren’t satisfied with ending it there, and a disturbing act of violence changes what was supposed to be a pleasant day into a nightmare. The story is simple, but terrifying. Ashcroft is relentless in portraying the horrors that befall this family at the hands of two psychotic killers. Most of the film takes place within the confines of a car, and the plot quite literally involves the family members being driven back home in the dark at the hands of their captors. Gillies gives a spine-chilling performance as a quietly unhinged lunatic, and he’s able to establish so much fear with nothing but a menacing stare. He absolutely sells the role to the maximum effect. This isn’t the most inventive revenge movie, as Ashcroft digs from the “let’s go all-out and make each scene more awful than the one before” arsenal too often. His characters are victims of inaction and when they eventually decide to make a move, they do things that are completely stupid. This in turn makes the film seem a little tawdry and cheap. “Coming Home in the Dark” is filled with an unrelenting brutality that will give your nerves a jolt. It’s not particularly memorable, but it’s good enough to recommend for fans of the genre. If you do decide to take the plunge, buckle in and prepare your emotions for a ride to some of the bleakest places imaginable.

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