Horror Movie Review: The Deep Dark (2023)

Written and directed by Mathieu Turi, The Deep Dark is a delightful subterranean horror film that combines history and fantasy, while throwing in a dash of Lovecraftian cosmic horror too. It’s an experience that can be described as immersive, and a lot of its shortcomings can easily be overlooked.

A Frech language film that stars Samuel Le Bihan, Amir El Kacem, Jean-Hugues Anglade, Thomas Solivérès, Diego Martín, Bruno Sanches, and Marc Riso. The Deep Dark is set in the 1950s and focuses on a group of miners given a hefty wage bonus to take a professor into the mine they work in. He wants to go deeper than they’ve ever gone before though, and while initially reluctant, the miners end up blasting their way into a cave system.

A fascinating discovery, but nothing compared to the ancient crypt they find and the sarcophagus within. Of course, they take note of their find and immediately head back to safety, right? Not when there’s the possibility of treasure and fame. A primordial monster has been released, and it is deadly. Its goal? To be free to wreck havoc upon the world. This aspect is where the film takes on its cosmic form and delivers some of the film’s best moments.

One being the monster, a practical effect that looks amazing, using a severed head to communicate its intentions. Done while sitting on a throne within something akin to a hellscape. It’s a wild moment, but thanks to time spent building characters, creating the environment, and building up the horror, it’s simply thrilling.

To get there though, The Deep Dark takes a leisurely approach. Which in the context of the story is fine, but it’s something that inevitably hurts the pacing. It was quite a surprise to get to an hour in and realise that no actual horror had occurred. Sure, there was tension and atmosphere and the growing sense that the horror was coming, but monsters? Death? Chaos and fear? Be warned, The Deep Dark is slow burn flick.

Which will no doubt put off those with short attention spans. However, I don’t think the film wastes time and the result of all the build means the payoff felt extra sweet. Especially when the bony and sinewy creature arrives to take its first victim. Even then, it’s not all out carnage, but the tone does shift as the survivors have to find a way out and avoid this monstrous thing.

Gorehounds won’t be disappointed, especially with the quality of the effects, but neither will those who appreciate more developed characters played with genuine gusto by a great cast. Some of whom are really likable, some of whom are quite detestable, and some of whom are just in the wrong place at the wrong time. That poor horse.

I really enjoyed The Deep Dark and got a lot of satisfaction from it. I do recognise that it could be tightened up here and there, and that the pacing isn’t going to be to everyone’s taste, but it’s certainly to mine. I even really liked the ending, which might be the most polarising part of the film.