The Dark Tower
2017 · Directed by Nikolaj Arcel
Original language: English
- fantasy
- action
- science fiction
The story
A boy haunted by visions of a parallel world aids its disillusioned guardian in preventing the destruction of the nexus of universes known as the Dark Tower.
What it’s like
Wide, sun-bleached desert under a flat white sky, then the cramped, grimy grid of Brooklyn streets lit by sodium lamps and hard fluorescents, so the film keeps swapping between two palettes: dusty ochre and bone for the other world, cold steel-blue and concrete grey for the city. Its camera is busy and kinetic, with fast cuts, handheld chases and sweeping drone shots across barren plains, and the score leans on synth pulses and big orchestral swells that push the action forward. The vibe is sun-scorched adventure with a wistful edge, a bit of Saturday-matinee swagger over a lonely, aching core. It suits a loud weekend afternoon or a comfort rewatch when you want escapism without much thinking. Pacing is brisk and rarely quiet, and the emotional register stays earnest and warm, centred on a lonely boy and a weary gunslinger slowly finding each other. Expect regular gunfire, explosions and monster skirmishes, with bloodless-to-moderate violence and some peril for kids, but no real gore. It is for viewers who want big-screen fantasy spectacle with a heart and an easy, undemanding ride.
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