Dark Ride

Years after a brutal killing, a maniac who once terrorized the town escapes from a mental hospital and heads back toward his old stomping ground, a derelict theme park that houses a dark ride attraction. The place hasn’t forgotten him either, and the night he returns the park hums with faded carnival memories and a chill of danger. A bunch of college students on a road trip wander into Dark Ride, drawn by curiosity and the lure of a forgotten midnight snack stop. What starts as a harmless detour quickly sours as the killer begins stalking them through shadows, mirrors, and claustrophobic corridors. The group fights to stay ahead, unsure who among them can be trusted. No one will sleep.

Released in 2006, Dark Ride was directed by Craig Singer and stems from an original concept by Robert Dean Klein. The film sits squarely in the horror thriller lane, using a run down amusement park as its pulse pounding setting.

Box office details for Dark Ride are not widely reported, reflecting its limited release and niche appeal. It did not become a major box office success, with several markets releasing the film to modest turnout in regions that historically underperform.

No major awards or nominations are listed for Dark Ride, keeping it out of the standard award chatter. The film tends to live in genre catalogs rather than prestige lists, and its presence is mostly felt by fans of late night horror chases who enjoy the rhythm of a hunt.

Critics framed Dark Ride as a straightforward entry in the slasher tradition with a claustrophobic park setting and a focus on nerve jangling suspense rather than deep character arcs. The film digs into fear driven by isolation, distrust, and the constant threat of a remorseless hunter, a cruel night unfolds.