Dark Honeymoon DVD Review

Film, Reviews

Available at Amazon.com

To put it nicely, this movie looks horrible. It’s got the classic “I’m a terrible, cheap horror movie.” And if you go just by the box, there is no way you’d think this is a passable movie. However, it actually is a very passable movie and better than some of the big time horror movies that have been released of late.

That’s not to say it’s great. The acting is hit or miss. With more hits than misses, thankfully. Lindy Booth plays the crazy wife wonderfully and really adds to the random-what-the-hell-is-going-on feeling of the movie. Nick Cornish plays her husband and just seems off. He doesn’t drag the movie down too far. And in the overall feel of the movie it actually works. And then you’ve got all the supporting actors and actresses who are actually the big names. Roy Scheider from Jaws, Tia Carrere, Daryl Hannah, so you know they’re going to be good. Scheider plays the inn keeper and has a perfect blend of nice and seedy that keeps you from knowing exactly what he’s up to.

The movie has a very “Psycho” feel to it. It all takes place at an out of the way inn, there’s a mysterious inn keeper, and even some of the shots are a lot like some of the shots in “Psycho”. The first kill in the bathroom has the most Psycho feel.

The movie starts with Nick Cornish being pulled over at a checkpoint and being taken into custody. While in custody he tells his story of the weekend to an FBI agent. His story begins with his wedding night and how his marriage didn’t start out the way he hoped, with his wife deciding that it will be more romantic to wait until the honeymoon at the inn to consummate the marriage. And once they get to the inn, his wife gets even crazier. She’s the stereotypical religious nut cake and she is obsessed with the sanctity of marriage. And who ever doesn’t have the same views on marriage end up on wrong side of her swiss army knife.

And that’s kind of one of the problems I have with the movie: what kind of psycho killer has only a swiss army knife? She finally gets a knife Rambo would be proud of, but it’s late in the movie. And it’s a good sign that my biggest gripe with the movie is something so minute that it doesn’t even matter.

The movie is pretty well written. The story flows well with a little drag in the middle but it’s just average.


Dark Honeymoon is presented in 1.33:1 Anamorphic Widescreen with Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo sound.

The video is ok, although the use of slow-mo might be a bit over done. And the whole dancing scene at the wedding is just odd looking. It looks like it’s in slow-mo, but the voices match and aren’t slow. There are also some really good shots. The drug scene with the mother is terrific. And I’m also a sucker for mirror shots, so when the inn keeper is standing with his back to the camera but just his face shows up in the mirror, it pleases me.


Another of the great DVD’s that has “Interactive Menus” listed as an Extra Feature. That’s pretty much it. There’s a trailer for the movie.


Surprisingly not terrible. Go into it expecting a train wreck, and you’ll be pleasantly surprised as well. I actually recommend picking this one up if you see it around.

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Box Office Productions II Presents Dark Honeymoon. Directed by Phillip Leftfield. Starring Lindy Booth, Roy Scheider, Tia Carrere, Daryl Hannah, and Eric Roberts. Written by Phillip Leftfield. Running time: 89 minutes. Not Rated. Released on DVD: July 22nd, 2008. Available at Amazon.com.