The problem that eclipses everything else in this film is the horrible lighting - an overdone effect. I understand - and appreciate - the unnatural darkness that some directors like to use to set the theme. But in this film, the consequences are very negative.
The worst part was where the antagonist and an arbitrary hired helper break in to a house to steal money. The actions that follow between these two individuals and the occupant of the house were impossible for me to discern and could only be guessed at from subsequent developments. This spoiled the film completely for me, as I regard it as a crucial event.
Other than that fatal flaw, the rest of the story earns an "okay enough" rating from me. Everything else that happened in the dark was simply dialogue (or sex), so no further guessing was required. Nothing special developed, Berenthal delivers one surprise in the result in an altercation with a motel guest but everything else proceeds entirely predictably. Predictability is not always a bad thing and I'm sure that many viewers will be satisfied with the outcome.
Incidentally, the "relationship" between the protagonist and antagonist, as described in the summary and a few reviews, is completely exaggerated. The superficial representation of a couple of brief interactions between these two makes this alleged relationship of very little importance in the story.
Still, the cast did very well with the material they were given, so no fault of theirs - and they deserve full credit for saving the director from abject failure.
The worst part was where the antagonist and an arbitrary hired helper break in to a house to steal money. The actions that follow between these two individuals and the occupant of the house were impossible for me to discern and could only be guessed at from subsequent developments. This spoiled the film completely for me, as I regard it as a crucial event.
Other than that fatal flaw, the rest of the story earns an "okay enough" rating from me. Everything else that happened in the dark was simply dialogue (or sex), so no further guessing was required. Nothing special developed, Berenthal delivers one surprise in the result in an altercation with a motel guest but everything else proceeds entirely predictably. Predictability is not always a bad thing and I'm sure that many viewers will be satisfied with the outcome.
Incidentally, the "relationship" between the protagonist and antagonist, as described in the summary and a few reviews, is completely exaggerated. The superficial representation of a couple of brief interactions between these two makes this alleged relationship of very little importance in the story.
Still, the cast did very well with the material they were given, so no fault of theirs - and they deserve full credit for saving the director from abject failure.