Dark Was the Night

Maiden Woods sits on the edge of a dark forest when a logging operation moves into the nearby hills, waking something older and meaner than any chain saw. An atmosphere of creeping dread settles over the town as whispers, disappearances, and flickering lights hint that the woods aren’t empty. Sheriff Paul Shields, a man marked by a painful past, finds his loyalties stretched between protecting his wife and kids and keeping the community from spiraling into panic. What begins as human noise and power lines becomes something unexplainable and elemental, a force that tests courage and judgment in equal measure. The fear becomes personal as the forest seems to answer with threats that close in. The town learns hard truths.

Directed by Jack Heller, the 2014 thriller Dark Was the Night builds on an original screenplay by Tyler Hisel. The cast centers on Kevin Durand as Shields with Lukas Haas and Bianca Kajlich supporting. It favors restraint over cheap shocks.

Atmosphere and mood carry this film, with Durand and Haas grounding a story that leans on solitude and creeping dread rather than loud shocks. Critics note a blend of small town paranoia and an encroaching natural threat, highlighting themes of trauma, community ties, and how fear reshapes a town together.

Box office data for Dark Was the Night is not widely publicized. It played in limited theaters and reached audiences mainly through video on demand and streaming. Without a large theatrical push, precise grosses are not readily available this year.

Awards: There are no major nominations or wins recorded for this title. It did not appear in prominent award circles, so the film is typically discussed in the context of its atmosphere and performances rather than accolades. This aligns with its modest release and genre placement in genre discussions worldwide.