THE DARKEST HOUR | FAMILY MOVIE REVIEW INFORMATION FOR PARENTS AND KIDS

"THE DARKEST HOUR"
(2011) (Emile Hirsch, Olivia Thirlby) (PG-13)

QUICK TAKE:
Sci-Fi/Horror: Various people end up stranded in Moscow and must contend with alien beings that are attacking Earth for its power supply and vaporize anyone who gets in their way.

PLOT:
Sean (EMILIE HIRSCH) and Ben (MAX MINGHELLA) and lifelong friends and business partners who've arrived in Moscow with an idea for creating a social travel website. They're to meet Swedish businessman Skyler (JOEL KINNAMAN), but upon their arrival, they learn that he's stolen their idea. To drown their sorrows, they head off to a local bar where they end up meeting American tourists Anne (RACHEL TAYLOR) and Natalie (OLIVIA THIRLBY). After a few drinks together, the lights go out and they head outside with everyone else.
There, they see strange electrical orbs of light descending from the sky. They quickly realize it's some sort of invasion as the invisible aliens soon vaporize most everyone in sight. Sean, Ben, Anne, Natalie and Skyler end up hiding in a storage room in the bar for several days before venturing out. Their plan is to make it across the otherwise empty city to the American embassy, but must avoid the aliens whose presence can only be detected by the brief activation of any electrical devices they pass by such as street lights or car headlights.
On their journey, they meet Russian teenager Vika (VERONIKA OZEROVA) who's staying with Russian engineer Sergei (DATO BAKHTADZE). He's wrapped his apartment in metal bars, chains and such, all of which shield their human electrical fields from the invaders. He's also created a microwave gun that he believes will disrupt the electrical energy of the creatures. That comes in handy when the group later meets up with Russian soldier Matvei (GOSHA KUTSENKO) who's determined not to go down without a fight.
Learning there's a nuclear submarine nearby that's preparing to leave the city, the various survivors try to make their way to that, all while avoiding the aliens.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?
If they're into alien invasion sorts of sci-fi flicks, they might be interested. Fans of anyone in the cast might also be drawn to it.

WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG-13
For sci-fi action violence and some language.

CAST AS ROLE MODELS:
MAX MINGHELLA plays an Interest entrepreneur who's arrived in Moscow with...

The rest of this review is available in our Screen It Subscriber Site.
We invite you to please log in or consider signing up and joining thousands of parents and other viewers who now know what they and/or their kids will see (or not see, if that's their choice) in the movie theaters, at home, or at someone else's house.

You'll get everything you see above PLUS immediate access to the Our Word to Parents objectionable content summary, as well as all of the specific listings in our 15 content categories (including profanity counts, specific details about the sexual content, violence and more).

With our reviews, you'll be a more informed parent and thus know what your child might see or hear, and you'll be able to discuss what they've seen or heard after the fact if a surprise viewing occurs somewhere away from you.

For those without kids or whose children have grown up, our reviews will give you peace of mind that you won't see or hear something that will shock or disgust you, thus allowing you to enjoy what you're viewing, or make another choice if you find somewhat objectionable listed in our review.

And our reviews are unlike any others available online or anywhere else. Nobody provides the amount of detail we do (and our reviews take more than 10 hours each to complete).

You get all of that for just $7.95 a month (with a 30 day Money Back Guarantee) or -- if you'd like to save more than 50% -- just $47 a year (less than $1 a week, with a 90 Day Money Back Guarantee). No hassles, no questions, no pressure. After all, it's your money. And we know once you read our reviews and become truly informed, you'll find this service to you far more valuable than that.

Remember, you can't take back what you or your kids might see or hear if you watch something without our help -- but our reviews will give you peace of mind that you've made the right choice.

Just Click the Sign Up Button below and you'll have Instant Access to this review and thousands of other new and older reviews:

Other new reviews available this week include:

Privacy Statement and Terms of Use and Disclaimer
By entering this site you acknowledge to having read and agreed to the above conditions.