The Dark Tower isn't that Dark
**This Review Contains Minor Spoilers**
Eh, it’s ok. I didn’t read a single review about the movie before I saw the film but I had a feeling it might be bad anyways because the total screen time was a mere 95 minutes. The only thing I knew about the movie was that it was based off a 7 book series by Stephen King; if the director can condense 7 books into a 95 minute film, the plot is going to be thin and sure enough, it was.
The story starts off with a kid named Jake Chambers who inexplicably has vivid night terrors of dystopian worlds, a man dressed in black and a lone gunmen in a vast desert. Apparently these dreams have been constant for over a year and so disturbing that his mother and stepfather decide to ship him to an insane asylum for children. Jake barely escapes from the ‘employees’ who work for the ‘insane asylum’ and by happy coincidence, he manages to wander to a very special house. A house that happens to have a portal to take him to the world where he’s been dreaming about and finally the real movie starts.
I was initially excited to see it because in the past I’ve always knew the source material before seeing a franchise film so viewing something with fresh eyes is rare for me. My excitement was quickly diminished about 20 minutes into the film - not because it was badly acted or directed but because the writing was stale. The film has a similar ‘Narnia’ atmosphere where things look dark and scary but no real consequences ever happen. Well, things happen but with no real explanation on why it happens. Why is the kid special? Why is the other world in ruins? What is the motive for the villain? There are no reasons why, it just is.
What is good about the movie is the actors. Idris Elba was absolutely fantastic. While watching, I felt Elba was Roland. Like legit was Roland. He was gritty but sincere, stern yet compassionate. He was fantastic and I really hope that this movie will only be a stepping stone to something bigger and better for him to play.
Tom Taylor who played the main protagonist, Jake Chambers also has good potential. Child actors get a bad rep because well, they are kids however I felt Taylor really stood out. Taylor is an actor that understood the role, someone who clearly knows his character and performed well with the script that was given to him.
And Matthew McConaughey played himself. I’m not sure what his character is like in the books but in the movie, McConaughey as the villain (the man in black) was portrayed the only way McConaughey knew how to, as himself. He was very smooth, calm and always in control. The only thing that McConaughey was a little weak at was green screen acting in regards to the final fight scene. He was playing as a powerful sorcerer however his movements when ‘casting spells’ was a bit stiff.
While watching the movie, I had a nagging question on my mind; who is this movie made for? It can’t be for the fans because if a series like Harry Potter was made into a film but took 7 books worth of material and made only 1 flick, I would be insulted and refuse to see it. It can’t be for adults because despite the violence and a ton of people being killed, it has really tame, bloodless deaths and at best, PG rated violence. It can’t be for kids because despite the main character being a pretween, there was a lot of heavy adult themes and scary imagery that kids under 13 shouldn’t see. And it certainly can’t be for teens because if I was 17 and watching this, I would be bored for the lack of all the above.
What’s most frustrating is that it didn’t have to be like this. I believe the movie could've been significantly better if the movie got bumped up to an R rating or if only the writers were a little more faithful to the source material. There were Easter eggs hidden throughout the film for the fans to spot but goes right over the heads of everyone else. Apparently McConaughey isn’t even the true villain - someone named the Crimson King is and he’s only mentioned in passing, never shown.
Overall, it’s an OK flick. In the end, this movie will just fade into obscurity like the majority of films on an endless scroll on Netflix where you will just skip past it and end up watching ‘The Office’ for the hundredth time.
Grade: 6/10
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