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Festivals are often great opportunities to see foreign films audiences might not otherwise get a chance to watch on the big screen. This year, Fantastic Fest audiences got the chance to watch the exciting French creature-feature, The Deep Dark. Written and directed by Mathieu Turi (Hostile, Meander), The Deep Dark follows a small group of coal miners in 1950’s France as they descend into the darkest, most dangerous depths of the mines to accompany a professor collecting samples. With tensions already rising from interpersonal issues between the miners and the professor, things go from bad to worse when the group realizes they are not alone in the subterranean abyss.

The Deep Dark incorporates elements that feel reminiscent of films like The Descent and As Above So Below, but with a plot that still makes it feel unique. After a spine-chilling cold opening, Turi begins the film as a dramatic period-piece. The audience has time to get a feel for the 1950’s setting and understand the different characters before being thrown into the depths. Understanding the relationships between the characters is vital, as that is the source of the initial tension. This is done quite well, although there are two characters who look very similar; and one of them isn’t introduced with the same care as the other miners, which sometimes makes it confusing to determine who you’re looking at on the screen. Turi also made sure to craft a spellbinding lore, building upon it throughout the film and even leaving room for the possibilities of a sequel (or many).

Once the miners and the professor become entombed in the uncharted tunnels, that is where the horror really kicks into high gear. With only their lanterns to light the darkness, it’s easy for the audience to feel they as if they are in the claustrophobic tunnels. That alone is terrifying to imagine, but Turi turns up the frights by putting an ancient, deadly creature in that same darkness to prey on the unsuspecting men. At times certain scenes in these depths can feel a bit drawn-out, slowing the momentum. It’s something just a bit of extra editing could have improved, cutting down the overall runtime, but the climax of the film still packs a punch. With a combination of drama, suspense, and a few great jump-scares, The Deep Dark is an edge-of-your-seat watch.

With a small cast playing the miners and the professor, The Deep Dark heavily relies on the performances of each actor. Luckily, every actor delivers memorable performances that range from lovable to annoying to downright sinister. The immediate standout is Amir El Kacem (Overdose, The Climb) as Amir, a young Moroccan man who just arrived in France to work the mines and send money home. Amir is a great protagonist for the audience to follow, not only because El Kacem portrays an honest naivety that is impossible not to connect with, but also because he is as new to his surroundings as we are, allowing the viewers to go along for the ride with Amir. Samuel Le Bihan (Brotherhood of the Wolf, Frontier(s)) plays the leader of the mining crew, Roland. Le Bihan always gives stellar performances, and his portrayal of this character is no different. Roland is a character that seems gruff and hardened on the surface, yet Le Bihan makes Roland’s love of his crew and determination to keep them safe apparent. Thomas Solivérès (The Intouchables), Diego Martín ([REC] 3: Genesis), Bruno Sanches (The Merry Widow), and Marc Riso (The Visitor From the Future) round out the rest of the mining team with Jean-Hugues Anglade (Nikita) as the professor.

The sights and sounds of The Deep Dark play a pivotal role in its success. In the darkness of the mines, the filmmakers had to expertly use the miner’s lamps as the only source of light. It’s a great way to build the rising terror, as it’s impossible to know what’s lurking in the dark until it’s too late. The sound design also lends to that build-up of fear, creating the creature’s strange noises and allowing them to creep up on the audience from the gloom. Then there is the creature design itself. A massive, ghastly beast made entirely with practical effects, horror fans are sure to enjoy this underground monster. The filmmakers opted to use a large puppet as the monster, which had to be controlled by multiple puppeteers inside the cave system. While there are times the creature looks a bit cheesy with jerky movements, it still has an iconic look and viewers will appreciate the use of practical effects rather than CGI. Practical effects are also used for the carnage the beast inflicts on the miners, creating shocking and cringe-worthy injuries that look all too real.

The Deep Dark delivers a riveting blend of a period-drama, archeological horror, and a creature-feature with a fascinating mythos for audiences to sink their teeth into. Turi’s third feature-film carries much of the DNA of filmmakers he’s worked with in the past, as well as other popular horror films, but the end result still feels unique. Despite some of the pacing issues, audiences are sure to connect with the well-developed characters and delight in the ghoulish practical monster. It’s clear Turi is a filmmaker to keep an eye on, and I hope we get to see him expand on this lore in future films.

OVERALL RATING: 8/10