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...

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