A Hidden Gem in All that Darkness: A Film Review

Directors/writers: Matt Duffer and Ross Duffer.

Cast: Alexander Skarsgård, Andrea Riseborough and Emily Alyn Lind.

Hidden is a film from twin brothers Matt and Ross Duffer. The Duffer brothers have completed a couple of short films, leading up to their feature film debut. In Hidden, a desperate family hides below ground, in a bunker. Stalked above by "breathers," much of the film is set in one dank basement. Here, the lighting is almost absent and characters' expressions are mostly unreadable. As well, a child actress overacts in several scenes and her character screams at the drop of a hat, increasing the annoyance factor. However, the brothers manage to create some great tension, with the antagonists held just off screen. A mysterious force and conflict are revealed late, with Hidden offering a number of exciting scenes.

In the depths, Zoe (Emily Alyn Lind), Claire (Andrea Riseborough) and Ray (Alexander Skarsgård) have been holed up for 301 days. It is amazing that they have not gone crazy during that time - from the cabin fever. Above, an unshown enemy force stalks the grounds. Their visages are rarely scene, but their raspy breath floods the sound design. Building up to the eventual climax and confrontation, this trio does their best to be discovered. This is not a survivalist's how-to video. The characters set fire to their furniture, or create a lot of sound with the introduction of a rat, or they simply scream when others are at the door to the bunker. Survival is not for everyone, with one of the characters succumbing to an encounter with the breathers. Happy moments are few and far between in dystopic fiction, but the adrenalin often remains high with Hidden.

Sometimes less is more.

A certain tiny actress is not coached very well and her scenes are overacted. The character Zoe overacts and dominates the other two characters. She is overexpressive when she needs to be more understated. Scenes are often overdelivered and the actress received far too many lines. And, the brothers needed to reign in this little bundle of constant screams. As it is, Zoe, the character, creates a number of contrivances, which sabotage the character's survival. In one scene, Zoe's talking doll goes off at an inopportune moment. This blend of overacting and a number of silly scenarios created some annoyance for one viewer. Zoe should have been relegated to a minor character, rather than trying to act as the central protagonist.

There is a lot of darkness within Hidden. The dark lighting suits a bunker. However, it is difficult to see actors' expressions. The actors could have deadpanned their deliveries and most viewers would have never known. Lighting, in the bunker, is relegated to a couple of lanterns. The light generated by these Coleman lamps is not enough to shoot a movie with. In the climax, it only gets worse. The night shooting reveals almost nothing. Entire action sequences cannot be seen, in the dim lighting. Dark costumes do not help the situation, much. This is a shame. The writing is top notch and the conflict is well thought out. It would just have been better if events could have been seen better, or at all. This is not radio, where only sound matters; this is film!

Hidden does deliver great tension, though. The claustrophobic feel of the bunker can be felt as the characters' struggle to survive. This viewer wonders what effect so much hiding would have on one's psyche, in reality. In fiction, the characters seem overly well-adjusted to their solitary confinement. Still, monstrous characters move just out of frame. Or, they test the family's shelter and its security. The results are chilling and often thrilling. And, the emotive acting and charged dialogue are often on point. In the final few scenes, the tables are turned and the protagonists become the antagonists. This turn delivers well set-up conflict as the family confronts their pursuers. The outcome is a satisfying blood-filled denouement.

Hidden is a very under-the-radar release. The film was completed in 2013. It was expected to release in theatres, this same year. Then, the release was postponed to the following year, 2014. It has only just been released through video-on-demand - in 2015, possibly due to some of the film's foibles. This is by no means a completely professionally shot, well polished product. Yet, the film does hold something special in its writing and in its characters. Interactions are compelling and despite too much screaming (often at the wrong times), Hidden delivers a thrilling film, worthy of a second jaw dropping watch.

Overall: 7 out of 10.

A trailer for the film is available here:

A Hidden Trailer on 28DLA


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