After I posted Scott Mantz's review of "Darkness Falls" on Monday, I shot off an e-mail to my colleague in LA. I was scheduled to see a sneak preview of the new horror film tonight. I told Scott that I was sorry to hear it was such a bad film. Scott said that I was lucky. I could view the film with no expectations and enjoy it for what it was. I was actually relieved that I could go see the film and not have to write a review. After getting home tonight, I felt compelled to write a rebuttal review to Scott's pan of "Darkness Falls." It's not a great film, but "Darkness Falls" delivers almost non-stop frights throughout its 75-minute running time.

Darkness Falls, Maine is a small town with a dark secret. Over 100 years ago, there was a kindly old woman that gave the town's children a gold piece when they lost their last tooth. The town’s folk dubbed her the Tooth Fairy. The old woman was later disfigured in a fire. Her skin was so sensitive that she could only go out at night wearing a porcelain mask. One day, two of the town's children disappeared. The old woman was quickly blamed and lynched. Before the rope snapped her neck, she put a curse on the town. She would return for each of the town's children when they lost their last tooth. If anyone dare look at her when she took the tooth, she would have her bloody revenge. That is the story told in voice over during the credits. As a horror monster origin, it is as logical as those given for Freddy, Jason and Michael Meyers.

Cut to 1991. Kyle (Chaney Kley as an adult) is 12 years old. He has lost his last tooth. Kyle is screwing up his courage to ask Caitlin (Emma Caufield as an adult) to the junior high dance. Cat makes a late night appearance outside Kyle's window. They talk and share their first kiss. Cat tastes the blood from Kyle losing his tooth. Before she leaves, Cat reminds Kyle not to peek when the Tooth Fairy comes. Kyle does. Nasty things happen. Kyle is sent away for a long time.

Cut to the present day. Cat's young brother Michael has seen the Tooth Fairy. He is in a mental hospital. Cat tracks down Kyle. Kyle has never lost his fear of the dark. He choose Las Vegas as his home. Kyle still loves Cat. He returns to Darkness Falls to see if he can help her little brother. Nasty things happen again.

In fairness to Scott Mantz, there is a lot of hokey dialogue in "Darkness Falls." The performance by lead actor Chaney Clay is not going to win any nominations. Emma Caufield comes off better. She is also sexy as hell. Yes, there are some plot holes. There are also some telegraphed scares.

In fairness to director Jonathan Liebesman, "Darkness Falls" delivers some genuine jolts throughout the majority of the running time. The first fifteen minutes of the movie is an extremely well done set piece which had the preview audience holding their breath, jumping, screaming and eventually letting out embarrassed laughs at having been manipulated so well. As with many genre films, the time taken to "set up" the premise gets bogged down. Although there is continuity in the transitions between the different eras in "Darkness Falls," the film suffers during the transition to the present day. To director Liebesman's credit, he gets through the transition rather quickly and kicks the film into high gear. I didn't find the time to think about plot implausibilities. I was to busy jumping, laughing and dodging elbows being thrown by the woman sitting next to me. At one point, the lady asked if she had grabbed me. The last 35 minutes of the movie don't let up. "Darkness Falls" is a fun popcorn movie. It delivers enough frights to make you forgive the shortcomings of the script and lead performance by Chaney Kley.

Rusty White, 2003