Brave the Dark Review

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Rating: 3.5/5

Synopsis:

Angel Studios rebounds after a few mediocre efforts! “Brave the Dark” explores the traumatic childhood of Nate, a young man living out of his car who has little direction in life. After he gets in trouble with the law, his drama teacher decides to take him in and straighten him out. Nate must confront his demons and allow himself to trust others so that he can finally be free of his pain. 

Positives:

Color me surprised, “Brave the Dark” is a surprisingly heartfelt story that champions compassion during dark times. This is a film that showcases how some people might be struggling with immense pain, yet their propensity for good is just an act of kindness away. After a rocky start, the story kicks into high gear in the second act. Once Stan (Nate’s drama teacher) attempts to reach him, the story goes to surprising depths to challenge Nate’s broken perspective on life. We see some unimaginable kindness from Stan, who’s generosity and warm spirit slowly peel back the layers of the struggling Nate. I loved seeing their relationship develop as the film went on. It’s not often that kindness is offered in this way, so seeing the unwavering faith in someone who needs a boost left me feeling hopeful in humanity by the end of the film.

The story wouldn’t be possible without the performance of Jared Harris, who carries a heavy load with his portrayal of Stan. Not only does he have to overcome a thin script, but he wonderfully displays the tenderness and willing attitude to a challenging young man like Nate. His enthusiasm is infectious, slowly breaking through to Nate as their relationship develops. Nicholas Hamilton does well enough here, highlighting his abilities in a tense exchange with Stan when the root of his struggle comes to the surface. The story isn’t fancy and doesn’t stand out on a technical level, but learning the true story of Nate and his journey was a much needed experience. I think most people will be able to take away something positive from this one.

Negatives: 

“Brave the Dark” could have been a slam dunk if not for a few technical elements that fall short. Much like previous Angel Studios productions, the script is weak. The first act struggles immensely with dialogue that is downright laughable. I had a difficult time taking any of the interactions seriously because I didn’t believe any regular person would deliver such wonky dialogue. This also ties into the direction too, where the construction of certain scenes feel forced. A handful of scenes struggle with authenticity, where the interactions and line delivery seem more like “the script says to do this” rather than feeling organic. Luckily, both the script and direction improve as the film goes on. This is not an immaculately crafted film but the wonderful message of hope and community saves it. 

Conclusion:

I had a better time with “Brave the Dark” than expected. The strong, heartfelt story between a broken young man and his genuinely kind teacher is a wonderful story to experience, especially in a time where we could use more compassion to those struggling with personal issues. Jared Harris and Nicholas Hamilton do some nice work amidst a poor script, convincing us that they were truly going on this journey together. I’d certainly recommend checking it out due to the heartwarming story. There is some dark content revealed about Nate’s past that might be upsetting to some, but the redemption he has is worth it. One of the better efforts from Angel Studios!