Dark Ride is a Gory Slasher Tale
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In Dark Ride a group of teenagers spend the night in an closed haunted attraction with horrific results. No Oscars for any of the actors to be sure, but the atmosphere and gore save the day.
Written by BHM Contributor Michael Saunier
April 15, 2007
Release: 2006
Directed by: Craig Singer
Written by: Robert Dean Klein and Craig Singer
Starring:
Jamie Lynn-DiScala as Cathy
Patrick Renna as Bill
David Clayton Rogers as Steve
Alex Sorowitz as Jim
Andrea Bogart as Jen
The AfterDark Horrorfest is following in the footsteps of The Masters of Horror series by bringing independent feature length horror movies to the public. Even though most of these releases are definitely geared towards horror aficionados, some of them do have a mass appeal and possibly could have functioned as a major release with the proper promotion. Dark Ride one of the best of the Horrorfest series.
First, a working definition followed by a synopsis of Dark Ride. A “Dark Ride” is the scary amusement ride at a local carnival, fair or amusement park. A group of college kids are traveling south for Spring Break, and decide to spend the night in an amusement park dark ride rather than spend their money on a hotel. The group has an interesting range of characters including an ex-boyfriend and girlfriend who are still friends, a shy and nerdy movie buff and a drug-loving party guy with a 70’s van. On their way south the group picks up an attractive yet neurotic female hitchhiker, but I don’t think she had anything to do with the story other than being the one that takes her top off.
Long story short the kids decide to stay in the dark ride for the night and havoc ensues when the group discovers they are not alone and are being stalked by a maniac.
Dark Ride has two major shortcomings: Acting and the ending. The acting is sub-par but, then again, we all know we aren’t sitting down to a horror movie for the Oscar-worthy talent. Jamie Lynn-DiScala (Meadow from The Sopranos) is particularly dull and should be savoring her Sopranos fame because after that show finishes up this spring she might be actually working at one of these rides. Dark Ride’s ending is the second major shortcoming as there are no real surprises. I’m no Sherlock Holmes but I still figured this one out with little problem.
Dark Ride also has some
serious highlights. The movie improves on the “naïve kids in a horror
ride” idea tremendously, and probably used Tobe Hooper’s Funhouse
as inspiration. Dark Ride shows the ride as a fun place
where kids enjoy themselves and then shows the same images after the
mayhem begins, illustrating a very effective contrast. The effects and
gore in Dark Ride are well done, especially the design of the
killer’s costume. They hit the nail right on the head by showing a
hulking guy with a mask made from the face of a babydoll. I personally
found it a bit eerie and demented, but it works. The sound effects in Dark
Ride relied heavily on the sounds and noises that one would
typically find in a haunted ride, calling childhood memories that most
of us have from such experiences.
I love scary amusement park rides and have been known to travel long distances every weekend during Halloween to get my fill of the year’s haunted houses. The scares from such haunted attractions fall into the “startle” category. After watching Dark Ride it is easy to see how the same hokey images can cross the line into true terror…straight from hokey to horrific.
Go see Dark Ride if you like slasher films. There is bad acting and a weak plot, but I promise that the claustrophobic atmosphere and nicely placed gore more than make up for it. Questions or comments about Dark Ride? Contact us!
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