Week 45

Light, Dark and Shadows

This week's movie challenge is to watch with a light, dark, or shadows theme.

These don't just set the mood, they add to storytelling, whether through the suspense of lurking shadows, the fear of the dark, or a hopeful glow of light. Here are a few subgenres with suggestions of movies that could count.

First up is survival in darkness, where characters are often stuck terrifying environments, relying on limited light to survive. In Pitch Black (2000), a spaceship crash leaves survivors stranded on a planet full of deadly creatures that hunt in the dark. Another example is The Descent (2005), where a group of cave explorers finds themselves trapped underground, their only hope of survival lying in their rapidly dwindling light sources.

Then there are films about blindness or vision loss, where darkness is a constant presence. Wait Until Dark (1967) stars Audrey Hepburn as a blind woman who must outwit criminals in her own home. In Don’t Breathe (2016), a group of burglars enters a blind man's house only to discover they're at his mercy when the lights go out. Blindness (2008) takes a more dystopian approach, with a sudden epidemic of blindness throwing society into chaos.

For those who love magic, fantasy films with light and dark forces use brightness and shadow to symbolize good and evil. In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004), the terrifying Dementors bring darkness with them, while Harry’s Patronus charm shines as a beacon of hope. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) contrasts the lush, green Shire with the shadowy, dangerous lands ruled by Sauron.

Finally, let's explore movies with light, dark, or shadow directly in the title. The Light Between Oceans (2016) is a romantic drama set around a remote lighthouse. Dark City (1998) is a sci-fi thriller about a city trapped in eternal night and Shadow of a Doubt (1943) by Alfred Hitchcock is a classic thriller about dark secrets hidden in a seemingly innocent family.

Below we’ve added some suggestions/recommendations for movies that would count for the challenge. Let us know what you’ve watched, what you’re thinking of watching, or whether you’ve got any recommendations to pass to your fellow CineChums.

Suggestions

These movies are mentioned in the video as potential suggestions for the challenge.

30 Days of Night Bird Box Buried By the Light of the Silvery Moon City of Ember Coco Coraline Dark City Dark Shadows Dark Water Dark Waters Don't Breathe Enter the Void Eyes Wide Shut Gravity I Saw the TV Glow Insidious Insomnia Light of My Life Lights Out Mandy Moonlight Nightwatch Pitch Black Ray See No Evil, Hear No Evil Shadow of a Doubt Shadow of the Vampire Sunshine The Dark Crystal The Dark Tower The Descent The Fog The Light Between Oceans The Lighthouse The Shadow The Shadow Strays Tommy Tron Tunnel Wait Until Dark Zatoichi