Death in the Shadows

Death in the Shadows tries to be a suspenseful mystery. I will grant that it has a few moments of genuine suspense, but it comes off as a weak attempt as a whole. In other words, it's not awful, but it's a far cry from having what it takes to be a classic.

Valerie's mother is killed in a hit and run one evening. That's bad enough, but then Valerie finds out that the autopsy says her mother has never birthed a child. There's no way Valerie can be her daughter. What secrets was her mother hiding? The police are as interested as Valerie is.

So the young woman sets out on a quest for answers. The next thing she knows she's the one in the headlights of a car trying to run her down. Whatever the secrets in her mother left behind someone is willing to kill for them.

The conclusion to it all is satisfying. It comes to a neat ending with most if not all the questions answered. But to me it feel like the second act of a CSI Miami episode. That was the easy part of the case, now here comes the bigger complication. Except this time there is no bigger complication. The easy part of the case is the whole thing. Maybe I'm just spoiled on modern CSI mysteries.

The acting is fair for the most part. A lot of it could be better, but I've seen far worse. Some of the scenes between the more suspenseful moments get to feeling long and pointless. The music is typical low-budget crap. Those would be my primary complaints.

MORALITY:

This is an unrated movie. For the longest time I thought it was going to be PG territory. The violence is far from graphic. The hit and run scene consists of a shot of the front of the car and a shot of the woman's face. That's it. There is a little blood later on, but mostly it's nothing more than the tension of Valerie being stalked.

The language is not very strong.

There's some underage smoking and hints of drinking.

Then about half-way through the movie the nude scenes start. Valerie gets naked for some sex with her boyfriend and then again later while sleeping. Then she discovers someone she knows works in a peep show place. When she ventures in we get a clear view of an X rated sign in the shop, and then a look at a couple of girls doing a peep show. At least this much definitely feels R rated.

SPIRITUALITY:

There isn't much to talk about here. Dishonesty leads to negative consequences. Otherwise I can't think of anything substantial to say.

FINAL THOUGHTS:

It's not completely lacking as far as little-known suspense flicks go, but I don't recommend making it a priority to see.

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