DARKNESS IN TENEMENT 45 (Film Review)

                              Starring: Nicole Tompkins, Casey Kramer, Keyon Bowman

                                                      Directed by Nicole Groton

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  Jumping into the feature-length directorial waters is a daunting task, I'm sure, and it's even more of a rewarding risk when the said project turns out to be something that's discussed in essence, especially during these trying times. Nicole Groton is behind the lens for the bleakly displayed Darkness In Tenement 45 - one of those movies that make you wish you never had to venture out into the open-air.

 The year is 1953, and the question inside of a New York apartment is whether or not the Soviet Union has dropped a biological weapon of-sorts on the good ol' USA. The occupants inside have taken up shelter inside the high-rise and have all barricaded themselves away from a potential infection due to the fallout - it all adds up to a general sense of unknowing and heavy foreboding. Our main focus here is on teenager Joanna (Tompkins): a 16-year-old who has been under the very watchful eye of her Aunt Martha (Kramer) after an especially volatile episode took place. It has been dubbed "The Darkness" and it's safe to say that it's something that's better kept under wraps for the safety of all who inhabit this building. The film uses its confinements as a centerpiece to give the audience that certain aura of unsettled consistency - there will be disagreements among the survivors, and tempers will most definitely flare when food and supplies run short.

 Groton's direction is refreshing in the fact that there isn't a direct reliance upon a lone horror here, but rather delving into the residents' impatience with each other as a cloaking uncertainty begins to overwhelm them. Pretty frightening stuff if you think about it, and it definitely was a refreshing change of pace from the normal slam-bang tactics that are seen in a lot of horror films today. With its strong portrayals, an eerie semblance of self and respectable storyline, Darkness In Tenement 45 is one of those indie-creepers that should put its director in the spotlight, and provide an enjoyable viewing experience for those who like a little thought in their thrillers.

FILM RATING: 3 out of 5