Feature Film Review

Film Info:
When a Catholic priest allows pride to seep into his soul, an ancient demon uses it to take control of him and go
after another piece of the weapon.

Written By: Michael Rye
Directed By: Michael Rye
Genre: Horror
51 Minutes

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DARKER THAN NIGHT - WE ARE LEGION ( 2016 )

  The best entry yet into the very tight budgeted "Darker Than Night" series continues with "We Are Legion". Our Countervail Logan, played by Michael Rye, continues his adventure in this biblical horror based thriller. This time however, he hunts a possessed priest within the ongoing plot. This is the fourth installment in the series and although serialized, is still watchable even if you haven't seen the previous entries. Watching them however, is highly recommended to fully follow along. Writer/Director Michael Rye has attempted this massive project with next to no funding and the results are impressive to say the least. This is not a perfect show however, due to the lack of funding, but is watchable and at times quite entertaining. One simply needs to give it a chance and let the interesting premise take you by the hand.
  As I've written of earlier episodes, "We Are Legion" suffers from a lack of funds production-wise. Without listing each individual technical element, let's just say if you can think it, it exists somewhere within the episode(s). However, the production budget is not the be all, end all of this show, and as I wrote above, once you're invested, even a little bit... a great story exists. The writing itself, given time, eventually elevates the show well past the mediocre mark. You will be interested, and you will carry on. Still though, a few things could have been done to make the show a little easier on the eyes. The first scene for example features a dialog between Logan and Michael. Small, controlled room and dimly lit. Now, here's the problem. Every shot of Michael is so dark that he almost appears as a shadow. Lighting up his face a little, even using a small lamp, would have instantly fixed the scene. We're talking about a lamp, not some big expensive set light. "We Are Legion" is full of this type of thing, where a small inexpensive (or free) fix could have saved an entire segment. Now, as I wrote... this stuff is forgivable if you are invested in the story. I fear however, that newcomers would simply take one look and pass on the entire show; that would be a shame considering the fix was so easy to achieve, and the show itself is a good one.
  There are some good points to note however, of this newest episode. More natural acting from the main characters and a much more polished (feeling) post production process. The edits just feel slicker, and the pacing of the show itself has greatly improved. I was pleasantly surprised by the final action sequence. It came across as real and not like something out of a cheesy martial arts film. The nutshell of this write-up is simple. Things are improving by leaps and bounds, even thought the budget remains a tight one.
  I'm becoming a regular viewer of this series, and enjoying my time spent with it more and more. The only real thing holding the "Darker Than Night" series from greatness is a little bit of funding. If, after it's all said and done I'm still watching, I can only assume that this is a great show to kill some time with. Anyone willing to start from episode one with an open mind will probably become a life-long viewer by the time they reach episode four. What Michael Rye has accomplished with some imagination, determination and not much else is simply amazing. The cast and crew seem just as excited and invested in the project... and it shows. If you don't have the cash, surrounding yourself with the proper people is vastly important to create and finish a project. The added bonus is that their commitment shows as the viewer watches. Everyone should be proud of the series thus far. It simply keeps getting better and better. Did I mention it's free? Links are to the left.
-MC

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