A rebellious student with a troubled past meets a kind teacher who takes him under his wing. We've all seen this movie before. What could possibly make viewers come back to watch this story again? Nuanced performances and natural dialogue would help, and that's exactly what Angel Studios' new release Brave the Dark has, despite some production glitches.
Based on a true story, Brave the Dark is set in 1986 Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Homeless high school student Nate Williams (Mark Wahlberg stunt double Nicholas Hamilton, who also performs the closing song with former Go-Go's lead vocalist Belinda Carlisle) is nearing jail for petty theft. But a judge allows Nate's teacher Stan Deen (Jared Harris) to take custody of him. A popular figure in town, Mr. Deen always sees the good in his students.
Director: Damian Harris
Writers: Lynn Robertson Hay, Dale G. Bradley, Damian Harris
Stars: Jared Harris, Nicholas Hamilton, Will Price
Nate struggles with vague memories of his mother, whose death when he was 6 might not have happened as he was told, and flashbacks hint at the root causes of Nate’s self-destructive behavior. He tries to change his life, but old habits die hard. Through it all, Mr. Deen never gives up.
It’s an inspiring story, but snags include swearing, a subplot that’s noticeable in early scenes that has no continuity, and minor cinematic errors.
Viewers may not notice production errors (well, now they will): a character who speaks without moving his mouth and leafy trees in outdoor Christmas scenes—it’s Pennsylvania, remember. It’s hard not to spot the Good Will Hunting reference (or plagiarism?) in the hugging finale, though: “It’s not your fault, it’s not your fault.” Twenty expletives and several shots of Nate’s bare chest seem to invite a nontraditional Angel Studios audience. Still, while Brave the Dark isn't perfect, Hamilton and Harris' believable interactions keep the film feeling authentic. True stories often have that effect.
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